ECU celebrates in-person commencement for more than 4,200 Pirates
East Carolina University celebrated the accomplishments of more than 4,200 graduates in a return to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for spring commencement on Friday.
“Commencement is one of the most special days in the life of a university, but this year is extra special because today we all feel a small sense of normalcy again,” Rogers said. “You can feel the energy and Pirate spirit back in the air again.”
Rogers said the graduates took different paths to an ECU degree, but all will leave as Pirates.
“Each of you graduates at a moment in time when you are desperately needed, when your skills, your talents, your knowledge and your leadership are required in order for this world to thrive,” he said.
Dr. Peter Hans, president of the UNC System, delivered the keynote address, telling graduates that they have the opportunity to shape their futures after a year of uncertainty and sacrifice.
“As we gather here today, with vaccines rolling out and the summer stretching before us, I don’t think there’s ever been a better moment to celebrate new beginnings,” Hans said. “I don’t think that any graduating class, certainly not in my lifetime, has had a more profound reason to celebrate, to feel gratitude for those who helped you get here, to look hopefully toward the future.”
Hans encouraged graduates to embrace the future.
“The key thing about the future is that it doesn’t just happen to you; you get to shape it,” Hans said. “And because of what you’ve just been through I would argue you are better prepared to shape it. Strength comes from resilience.”
Hans also encouraged the graduates to be deliberate with their time.
“We’ve all been through shared, worldwide events that none of us could control,” he said. “But from here on, you get to make some pretty big decisions about which things in your life you can change, and how you want to spend your time making it happen.”
Joining in remarks to graduates were Tucker Robbins, Student Government Association president; Dr. Purificación Martínez, chair of the faculty; Vern Davenport, chair of the ECU Board of Trustees; and Leo Daughtry of the UNC Board of Governors, who presented the board’s 2021 Award for Excellence in Teaching to Dr. Ricky Castles, associate professor of engineering in the College of Engineering and Technology.
Robbins noted the graduates’ resilience and opportunities that come with earning a degree.
“As you begin to embark on your next journey, don’t forget our motto, servire, meaning to serve. Make it a priority to give back to your alma mater, serve others, share the treasures you’ve gained from this place, and always represent with honor, class and integrity,” Robbins said. “I plead for you to fight for those that can’t fight, speak for those that need a voice and exceed the benchmark in all facets of life.”
Graduate Christian Smith, who earned a theatre arts degree, said his time at ECU was fun but hard work. “It was definitely a growing time in my life. I grew a lot here.”
Smith’s mother, Robin Smith, from Brockton, Massachusetts, and his brother, Cecil Smith III, brought congratulatory balloons for her 2021 graduate.
“I’ve been holding my emotions in for the last two weeks, but the dam is breaking today,” she said. “He is our first generation graduating from college, so I’m just ecstatic. I’m so happy. I’m so proud of him and his accomplishments. It’s a beautiful moment for our family. Christian is the youngest. His father passed when he was a baby, so it’s just such a big moment, such a big, big moment.”
Sitting in the stands was another first-generation student, Nirav Mehta of Durham, who graduated in 2020 with a degree in information and computer technology. He started work at Nutanix, a cloud computing company, last summer.
Walking into Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium brought back memories of watching football games from the Boneyard, especially when ECU beat UNC — where his brother goes to school, he said. “It’s been kind of nice to have that year away and reflect on it and let it all come back,” Mehta said.
His mother and father, who live in Elm City, were by his side. “We’re proud parents. We’ve been waiting a year for this ceremony,” said his father, Nainesh Mehta, who is originally from Zambia and immigrated to the United States with his wife from the United Kingdom. “We worked hard when we came to this country, and all of our hard work and sacrifice paid off.”
They will celebrate at another ceremony next week when their son, Neil, graduates from UNC with a master’s degree in accounting.
Also during the ECU ceremonies, Sheridan Barnes, chair of the ECU Alumni Association board of directors, recognized the Robert W. Wright Alumni Leadership Award winners: Adam Butler of Roseboro, Jamie Chamberlin of Greenville, Victoria Chan of Holly Springs, William Guiler of Charlotte and Dana Shefet of Cary. The award, which recognizes academic achievement as well as commitment to leadership and integrity, is the most prestigious award presented by the alumni association.
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