Pirate graduates honored for giving
Nearly 300 of East Carolina University’s 2023 graduates donned a new honor cord in recognition of their philanthropy.
The graduates wearing these cords at commencement demonstrated their commitment to ECU by making a donation during Pirate Nation Gives or another time this year to advance the university’s mission-driven future.
Karla Jones ’00 ’02, chair of the ECU Alumni Association Board of Directors, recognized the students during commencement and described the philanthropy honor cord as a representation of the university’s present and future. The cord’s gold threads symbolize gifts made to support ECU and the purple threads symbolize Pirate Nation.
Students who demonstrated their commitment to East Carolina University by making a donation this year were recognized during Friday’s commencement ceremony. (ECU photo by George Crocker)
First-generation ECU graduate Jannet Lopez said the honor cord was part of a year of firsts for her. She is first in her family to graduate from college and chose to be a first-time donor during Pirate Nation Gives. Lopez earned her degree in birth to kindergarten education in the College of Health and Human Performance.
Brother and sister graduates Brayden and Cassidy Fringley both chose to support the College of Business with their gifts. Pirate nurse Samantha Smith said she chose to support the Student Emergency Fund with her gift.
College of Health and Human Performance physical education graduate Kaylan Baetz said she wanted to support HHP when she gave. “They supported me for four years and I wanted to support them now.” Baetz plans to become a middle school teacher.
“It’s really special that so many students made a commitment to the university by giving and are now part of the Pursue Gold Campaign,” said Christopher Dyba, vice chancellor for university advancement. “Everyone can support ECU’s pursuit to be a national model for student success, public service and regional transformation and these students have taken that first step to giving back to their alma mater.”
Bella Gwyn earned her degree in public health on Friday and has her sights set on dental school. She was proud to add a philanthropy cord to her collection of honor cords. She said she believed becoming a donor and receiving the cord was a good representation of ECU and what the university stands for.
Jamie Pierce donated in memory of her mother and wore the purple and gold cord over her graduation gown as a way to honor her.
“This donation meant everything to me,” Pierce said. “My mama (she was everything) passed away a year ago and I have struggled with something special to recognize her with on graduation. (Giving) is something I will do every year in honor and memory of my mama.”
Pierce, 46, a mother of eight children, said she would never have finished college without her mother’s support. She began her college career in 1994. Now that she’s earned her bachelor’s degree, she plans to begin graduate school in the fall.
ECU is in the public phase of the Pursue Gold campaign to raise half a billion dollars. This ambitious effort will create new paths to success for Pirates on campus, across the country and around the world. Donor gifts during the campaign will keep us constantly leading and ready to advance what’s possible. Learn more at pursuegold.ecu.edu.