Filled with Pirate Pride
On a day filled with joy, hugs and tears, East Carolina University social work graduate Karigan Zaferatos experienced all three simultaneously.
Zaferatos was among more than 4,600 students who graduated during spring commencement in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Friday. With the addition of today’s graduates, Pirate Nation now boasts more than 200,000 living alumni.
The only thing missing was her brother Ryan, a U.S. Coast Guardsman stationed in Oregon. Or so she thought.
Ryan Zaferatos traveled from the West Coast, arriving in time to surprise his sister and join in the celebration at the College of Health and Human Performance (HHP) recognition ceremonies later that afternoon in the Main Campus Student Center.
After HHP’s tradition of recognizing military service members and veterans, Ryan Zaferatos, in uniform, entered the room from a side hallway to surprise Karigan, whom he describes as his best friend. They embraced and were cheered by the other graduates and guests.
As it turns out, Ryan’s plan was long in the works.
“I’ve always wanted to do it and can’t think of a better person to surprise,” Ryan said. “It went just how I thought it would. I’m super glad to be back with my family; being away from her has been rough.”
Ryan’s effort to see Karigan graduate wasn’t lost on their mother, Lori Fox.
Karigan Zaferatos received an unexpected congratulations from her brother Ryan, a U.S. Coast Guardsman who traveled from Oregon for the College of Health and Human Performance ceremonies. (Photo by Steven Mantilla)
“To have my son here from Portland to celebrate his sister, Karigan, and her amazing achievement is heartwarming,” she said. “Mother’s Day 2025 will forever hold a special place in my heart.”
Earlier in the day, Chancellor Philip Rogers welcomed family and friends who celebrated their graduates’ achievements in the main ceremony in the football stadium.
Students celebrate during commencement. (Photo by Steven Mantilla)
“In many ways today simply marks a new beginning on your Pirate journey into the future,” Rogers said. “ECU is deeply proud of you and your many, many accomplishments.”
SGA president Anderson Ward reflected on the journey that he and his classmates took to commencement, balancing academics, extracurriculars and personal growth. The resilience and determination needed over the past four years will serve them well in whatever path they take.
“Every journey matters. There is no single definition of success. That is the entire point of college, it is to understand yourself and to become comfortable with not knowing what the future holds,” Ward said.
Faculty chair Anne Ticknor asked the graduates to be open to the possibilities ahead. “Be ready to accept that what you planned may not be what you find yourself doing,” Ticknor said. “Know that ECU has prepared you well. Your contributions will matter and you are ready because you are a Pirate.”
ECU Board of Trustees Chair Jason Poole and Kirk Bradley, representing the UNC Board of Governors, each congratulated the Class of 2025. Bradley presented ECU faculty member Dr. Laura Levi Altstaedter the Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching.
The ceremony’s keynote speaker, John May, a Greenville native, entrepreneur and 1993 alumnus, is the founder and managing partner of CORE Industrial Partners, a private equity firm with approximately $2 billion in assets under management. He shared three recommendations to guide graduates in their next steps — to put your faith first and to lead with love; work hard and make good decisions; and to be resilient when life knocks you down.
“Learn from your mistakes and build up grit, which will help you have a successful life. And always start your days full of gratitude,” he said. “Be grateful for all the love, faith, peace, mercy and success you have and will experience in the future. Each day be thankful for what you have. Be thankful for who you will become.”
Following May’s remarks, ECU alumni chair Dr. Shannon Minges recognized this year’s recipients of the Robert H. Wright Leadership Award — Hannah Blackburn, Christine Chan, Alexander Fisher, Alessio Fratarcangeli and Jethro Libutan.
Completing a Journey
Beth Ann Casey Wilkie of Grifton could not have all of her elementary school students with her at graduation but she did the next best thing and customized her mortar board to carry each of their names with her across the stage. She took her mortarboard to class and had all her “kiddos” decorate and sign it.
Wilkie attended Appalachian State University in 1995 and transferred to ECU with plans to get a degree in fine arts.
“It quite literally almost killed me. I was completely empty when I left school. It was my rock bottom in life,” Wilkie said. “I wasn’t good at it. I felt I was lacking something that it seemed everyone else had.”
Today, she proved she had the skills waiting for the right moment. Wilkie completed what she started 30 years ago and earned a Bachelor of Science in University Studies, this time with psychology and human behavior at the core of her studies. Since returning to school, she completed her remaining 46 hours – with As and one B – while working full time as an elementary school teacher. She will complete her practicum this summer.
“I’m not much of a story, but I am proof that you can finish what you started,” she said. “I will not ‘graduate with honors’ but I am honored to finally graduate.”
Beth Ann Casey Wilkie’s cap showcases her students’ signatures. (Contributed photo)
A Group Effort
Having someone to laugh and cry with helped graduates Alyssa O’Connor, Amanda Miller, Tahjee Dingle, Brooke McKee, Madison Power and Lindsey Aiken through the rigors of nursing school.
“It’s been a really hard journey, but it’s definitely been worth it, and having a good friend group has made it really a lot better,” said McKee of Cincinnati, Ohio. “It’s been a much better experience having all that support.”
“We couldn’t have done it without each other,” said Miller of Youngsville. “We have a group chat, and almost every single day we’re talking in it. I think having that communication with each other has really helped get us through nursing school.”
The graduates — who soon will be starting jobs, some as close as Raleigh and some as far away as New York, Florida and Texas — first met sophomore year through microbiology.
“A good friend group is definitely necessary,” said Aiken of Macungie, Pennsylvania, a student-athlete who played soccer for ECU.
Their study groups helped prepare for exams and they supported each other through less-than-expected grades. “Just being there for that person to say, ‘Keep going, it’s OK, there’s always another one coming’ kind of thing. Just keeping our heads up no matter what,” Aiken said.
“Just having a good group of people to guide you through is super helpful,” McKee said. “We all relate to each other and we’re all going through the same thing.”
Sharing a Smile
School of Dental Medine graduate Abigail Owens smiles prior to ECU’s spring commencement ceremony. (Photo by Steven Mantilla)
Hannah Webb of Wilson earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine, her second ECU degree after earning a bachelor’s degree in health science management in 2019.
“I’ve worked my entire life for this. It’s surreal that it’s coming to an end. I’ve made some of the greatest friends in dental school and I couldn’t have gotten through it without them and the support of my family and husband. I’ve been a Pirate since day one.”
Webb will begin her dental career as an associate dentist at McLamb Place Dental in Goldsboro.
Abigail Owens of Whiteville also earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine.
“It’s bittersweet,” she said of graduation. “It’s all of the last four years coming to a head. I’m super proud of myself and my classmates for making it this far. It’s a little bit sad to leave the place I’ve called home for the last four years and leave my classmates who have become my best friends.”
Owens begins her career at a practice in Raleigh in mid-July.
A Big Hug
Outside of Gate 1 at the stadium, Kaylee Moran spotted her family, specifically her 3-year-old nephew Jace, who greeted his purple-clad aunt with a big hug.
“That’s my nephew,” said Moran, who graduated with a degree in elementary education. “I’ve got six (family members) here, and my two nephews.”
From Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, Moran found ECU with an internet search while in high school.
“I was a COVID senior, so I just googled and prayed it was a good one,” she said. “I knew I didn’t want to stay in P.A., and Florida was an option, but that was a little too far from home, so we met in the middle.”
After four years, she’s happy with her choice.
“It was amazing. It’s something you can’t describe. You just have to be here to experience it,” said Moran, who plans to teach in Florida.
Not one to coast into graduation, Moran finished her final requirements two days earlier.
“I student taught until Wednesday, so this is finally my break. I’m done,” she said. “I’m excited.”
Longtime Friends
Underneath the stands before commencement, criminal justice graduate Tehya Fisher straightened her cap and adjusted her stole, and then she stood for a picture with a friend she met when she was a freshman in high school in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Olivia Zayicek would also be turning her tassel during Friday’s commencement.
“It’s really funny. We haven’t seen each other in a while,” said Zayicek, an elementary education graduate.
“At first we stayed in touch pretty well, but you go later on and start taking different classes, internships and different schedules, it was hard,” Fisher said of seeing her high school friend.
But here they were together again, sharing a moment as Pirate graduates on Friday.
“It was nice to know — coming so far not having anybody here — to have somebody here, Fisher said.
“It was really comforting having a friend here,” Zayicek added.
Longtime friends Olivia Zayicek and Tehya Fisher pose for a picture prior to Friday’s commencement ceremony. (Photo by Ken Buday)
They’re going their separate ways after graduation — Fisher with the Lenoir Youth Development Center in Kinston and Zayicek as a third-grade teacher in Virginia Beach — but they’ll have their friendship and the bond of being Pirate alumni.
“It’s bittersweet because now we’re adults,” Fisher said of graduating. “It felt like a fast four years, but at the same time, it felt like a long four years. It’s nice that I did it in four years, and I’m grateful to have a job and not have to worry about that.”
Proud Parents
Sancia Carr’s parents Chris and Sandra Carr and her aunt Ruth left Nashville at 6:30 a.m. for their front-row seats in the stadium.
“I’m forever grateful for the last 2.5 years at ECU,” Sancia said in a Facebook post. “From the friendships I’ve made to the experiences that shaped me, this journey has been nothing short of unforgettable.”
Sancia Carr’s parents and aunt wait for commencement to begin in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. (Photo by Steven Mantilla)
Sancia earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology with a pre-professional concentration from ECU after earning her high school diploma and associate degree at Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School. She intends to pursue a master’s degree.
“I’m just blessed and thankful that this day is finally here,” Chris said.
“She has accomplished a lot, a whole lot,” Sandra said. “You have your ups and your downs, but she stood strong with faith in God. We always talk — have faith in God, trust in him. Put him first and if you do, everything will work out. Because stressing is not good and won’t make anything better. We always try to encourage her, we always send her a scripture every day before class and pray with her every day before class.”
Chris was able to see Sancia often because he works nearby. Sandra joked that he should be wearing a gown and walking with the graduates too.
“She persevered and that makes a big difference,” Chris said.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Ward and Brandon Frye, vice chancellor for student affairs, oversaw the traditional turning of the tassels, and ECU Master of Arts graduate Zach Leach led the singing of ECU’s alma mater.