OFFICIALLY PIRATES
Convocation, Palooza excite students for new semester
East Carolina University welcomed more than 4,300 first-year students during the annual Student Welcome and Convocation at Minges Coliseum Aug. 21.
Guest speaker and ECU alumnus Greg Morin ’01, CEO of P1 Performance Group, which specializes in leadership training, executive coaching and team building, encouraged the students to get outside of their comfort zone and strive for success.
Zeta Tau Alpha greets people walking into Minges for convocation.
“Get comfortable with uncomfortable,” said Morin, who before starting his own business spent seven years at Hendrick Motorsports coordinating, directing and teaching pit crew preparation and training for NASCAR drivers Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. “Never diminish the power of working outside of your comfort zone.”
Interactive entertainment before the convocation keynote address included several rounds of a “Family Feud” style game between ECU administrators, coaches and student athletes. Students also enjoyed watching faculty members sing along to hits such as “Don’t Stop Believing” in a round of Carpool Karaoke made popular by late night TV host James Corden.
Dr. Virginia Hardy, vice chancellor of student affairs, officially welcomed students.
“Today, you are officially a pirate,” she said.
Guest speaker and ECU alumnus Greg Morin ’01, CEO of P1 Performance Group speaks to students.
Chancellor Cecil Staton also addressed the students, emphasizing the importance of civil discourse, higher education and hard work.
“As you make this place your home, we want you to focus on four themes that will guide you in your success as a student – connect, engage, motivate and finish strong.
“Connect within and beyond your classroom; engage in opportunities on and off campus; stay motivated in order to become the person you want to be and at the end of this year, which will be here before you know it – finish strong,” he said.
ECU student Olivia Owens in the hippo chow down attraction in Dowdy-Ficklen.
A pep rally with coaches, cheerleaders and ECU mascot Pee Dee the Pirate introduced ECU sports traditions. The football program also previewed the promotional video for the upcoming season.
Following convocation, the students gathered at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for the 16th annual Pirate Palooza, which included live band karaoke, large inflatables, athletic games, free food and giveaways. Students who posted tweets and photographs to social media using the #ECUPalooza hashtag saw their posts displayed on the stadium scoreboard.
Pirate Palooza ended around 8:30 p.m., giving students ample opportunity to prepare for the first day of classes Aug. 22.
Catch a glimpse of New Student Convocation 2016 in the video below. (Video by Rich Klindworth)