PUMPED UP PIRATES

Convocations, Palooza kick off new academic year

An East Carolina University football standout helped pump up new Pirates at student convocation Aug. 25, on the eve of fall semester.

Carlester Crumpler Jr., a Bank of America vice president who played for the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings, asked about 4,000 freshmen and transfer students in Minges Coliseum to contemplate a serious question: “Who do you want to become?”

Crumpler, who earned a bachelor and master’s degree in business administration from ECU, talked about a trip he took to Puerto Rico where he hiked to the top of a mountain.

“I had been so focused on getting to the top, I never fully appreciated my surroundings,” Crumpler said. He encouraged students to embrace the process of attaining their goals and to think about how they would like to be remembered as they pursue them.

Students and the university are partners in their education, said Chancellor Steve Ballard. “Work hard and go to class and you’ll be surprised how well your side of the partnership will work out,” Ballard said. “Take advantage of this great public university.”

ECU’s part will be to provide students with skills and competencies, practical experience and leadership opportunities.

“So get smarter in your classrooms, apply those skills and be a leader,” Ballard said.

Earlier, Dr. Virginia Hardy, vice chancellor for student affairs, officially welcomed the Class of 2018 and asked students to focus on four areas – connect, engage, motivate and finish strong – during their college career. “Today, you’re officially a Pirate,” she said.

ECU cheerleaders and marching band members rallied students before Athletics Director Jeff Compher announced that the university has one of the largest student booster clubs in the country with more than 9,900 Student Pirate Club members.

“While you are students at ECU, be undaunted in all your pursuits and passionately pursue your goals,” said Compher, who introduced ECU’s varsity coaches and a new football video – which included tips for new students on ‘first down’ and ‘no quarter.’

“I’m looking forward to the football games,” said Savannah Whipkey, a freshman from Clinton who plans to major in nursing. “That video made it more real.”

School spirit helped Whipkey choose ECU over another school. “Riding down the road, you see ECU on everything,” she said.

Students line up to enter Pirate Palooza.

Fellow freshman Adrienne Steel of Raleigh, an intended psychology major, said she looked forward to more events like Pirate Palooza, an annual carnival-style welcome celebration held at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, which followed convocation.

Also recognized Monday were the staff and faculty member nominated for making the biggest difference in first-year students’ lives during the first semester of the previous academic year.

Student Government Association President Michael King presented the Freshman-First Year Advocate Award to Bernice Gay, known to many as ‘Ms. B,’ who works in West End Dining Hall, and Gerry MacLeod, a teaching instructor in math.