Fall 2024 graduates set sail

East Carolina University's fall Class of 2024 graduates completed their academic journeys Friday during a commencement ceremony in Minges Coliseum.

Rogers introduced keynote speaker Bob Greczyn '73, a seasoned health care executive and retired CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. Greczyn, a former Board of Trustees chair, described his journey to ECU from New Jersey and how his time as a Pirate prepared him both personally and professionally. He encouraged the graduates to be persistent, to be noticed for their hard work and competency, take risks, embrace the journey and that an individual's success is a team's success.

"First, your ECU degree is your ticket. That ticket is wonderful, but it doesn't guarantee anything except the opportunity to compete. You have to walk through those doors, or it is a lost opportunity," he said. "Second, everyone wants to be noticed, but be noticed for your hard work and competency, not because you say, 'hey, notice me'".

"Third, never assume your personal or professional life will be a straight line. It likely will not be." Greczyn said. "You will have successes and failures and learn more from the failures than successes. Failure makes you learn, and it makes you better. I spent 25 years as a CEO, and it all started when I failed and then took a risk. Fourth, never assume the world owes you. You owe yourself! You're responsible for your life."

"Finally, and this is important, you will never achieve what you are capable of without other people. I never did anything of significance without teams of highly competent people. Your success is the team's success," he said.

Greczyn recalled a friend's remarks that if you aspire to leadership, it is a good idea to occasionally look over your shoulder and see if anyone is following.

Also addressing the graduates were Anderson Ward, Student Government Association president; Dr. Anne Ticknor, faculty chair; and Jason Poole, chairman of the ECU Board of Trustees.

Ward told his classmates that the beauty of the journey lies in the uncertainty and endless possibilities it brings.

"We spend so much time trying to figure out what we are supposed to do, where we are supposed to go, or who we are supposed to be that we forget to appreciate the process itself," he said. "It is in the moments of confusion, trial, and yes, even procrastination, that we often find the best lessons and most unexpected opportunities."

Ticknor's charge to the graduates was to apply the skills they used beyond what their degree may be.

"You gained knowledge and skills that go beyond your degree -you learned how to be an engaged member of society, acquired valuable communication skills, built on your ability to work with people different from yourself and are leaving ECU with a new outlook on the world," she said.

A historic first

Sarah Branch made history as the first graduate of Project Kitty Hawk, earning her bachelor's degree in psychology. Project Kitty Hawk partners with UNC System institutions to solve workforce needs throughout the state by building high demand degree programs and by providing student support solutions specifically tailored for nontraditional learners.

The Shelby native saw her college journey come full circle as she originally began as an ECU student in 2019.

"I started at ECU," she said. "I had a year left when my husband and I found out we were expecting our first baby, so we decided that it was best for us to move home closer to family. Unfortunately, I was unable to finish my classes since my degree wasn't available online at that time."

Fast forward three years and Branch was looking to finish her degree. ECU would reenter the picture through Project Kitty Hawk and its expanded online education options.

"I stumbled upon Project Kitty Hawk when I decided I wanted to go back to school," Branch said. "I found that psychology was now one of the online options and Project Kitty Hawk was the perfect opportunity to finish what I had started."

Branch completed her final nine credit hours to earn her degree and was joined at the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences departmental graduation by her husband Isaac, son Wyatt along with other family members and friends.

Project Kitty Hawk's first graduate was grateful for the opportunity to complete her studies.

"I had a pleasant experience. My professors were extremely helpful and responded right away with any questions or concerns I had," she said.

Double degrees

For two engineering graduates - twins Charlie and Sydney Bosworth - commencement was twice as special.

"I'm going to miss the atmosphere here," Charlie Bosworth said. "It's my last day of school, probably, or at least for the foreseeable future, but I'm going on to new horizons, full independency, full adulthood and making money. You know, that's always a plus."

He's going to work at Hoffman and Hoffman, a commercial HVAC equipment company in Raleigh. Sydney Bosworth won't be that far away at Barton Associates, a Raleigh engineering firm specializing in mechanical, electrical and plumbing solutions.

"I'm going to miss being here, but I'm excited for a new beginning," Sydney Bosworth said. "I've been in school for forever, like 20 years, so I'm pretty ready to go."

The Holly Springs duo decided on concentrations in mechanical engineering and often shared classes, benefiting from each other's academic strengths.

"If I understood something in class and Charlie didn't or vice versa, we would be able to help each other out, explaining how to do problems or just explaining the material in general," Sydney Bosworth said.

Both said they relished their ECU experiences - from the friends they've met and the relationships with professors they've made to the hard work they put in to obtain their degrees.

"It's such an awesome school," Sydney Bosworth said.

For more on the Bosworth twins' academic journey at ECU, visit the College of Engineering & Technology website.

Teaching tomorrow's leaders

Amber Fox earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education. The Smithfield native had the students she worked with as a student teacher decorate her stole as a way to have them with her on graduation day. Fox's experience at ECU could be summed up in a single word.

"If I could describe my time here in one word, it would be home," Fox said. "It's been amazing. I'm an only child so growing up it was just me. Coming here, getting to meet so many people and making lifelong friendships has been great. I've loved every minute of it."

For Fox, Friday's commencement ceremony was an experience she didn't have in high school but worth the wait.

"I'm excited, I'm ready," she said. "I was a 2020 high school graduate and didn't have a real graduation. This is even better than high school."

Fox hopes to teach fourth grade in Johnston County.

Caring for others

Caden McIntyre of Raeford earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing, graduating cum laude.

"It's pretty great," he said of graduating. "It's been a hard road to get here filled with ups and downs, but we made it. It might not have been pretty the whole time but I'm excited to move forward and take care of people."

McIntyre was also a graduate of the Honors College and was required to do a research project to fulfill program requirements.

"I was able to work with Dr Mitzi Pestaner. I got to see and do a lot of research with her and gained a lot of experience," McIntyre said.

McIntyre will work in the emergency department at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville.

Serving those who have served

Army veteran Maddie Coster Parker earned a bachelor's degree in molecular biology. Her service dog, Jaro joined her at the commencement ceremony.

"This is a 13-year-long journey that I started in 2011. I took time off to take care of my family and my dad after his stroke," she said. "I went back to college to finish my prerequisites and am off to medical school after this."

During her time at ECU, she used the Military & Veterans Resource Center and the benefits it offers students. Parker also praised the assistance of the Department for Disability Support Services, who helped ensure that she had the accommodations she needed.

"First and foremost, I am a disabled veteran," she said. "I went into the Army in 2013 and when I got out, I realized I had the GI Bill available. I was able to utilize that here. The vet center on campus has been incredibly helpful. They walked me through the entire process. They helped me stay on track to make sure all of my paperwork is done and kept me on top of things every semester. They checked in with me periodically and made sure that I had book resources as needed and knew all my benefits."

"I had a very good time here," she said. "It's been great. Compared to all the other colleges I attended, this one's been my favorite."

Finding his voice

Curtis Philon of Hendersonville earned his master's degree in communication. Friday's commencement ceremony was his first time on campus having completed his degree program online.

"I'm nervous and excited. It's not really sinking in yet that I'm done with all of it," Philon said.

With his degree completed, Philon looks to go into teaching.

"In the end, I want to go into teaching public speaking," he said. "It will help me start a profession and career that will allow me to spend more time at home and with my family."

Proud parents

Brandon Lilley of Williamston graduated magna cum laude with a degree in accounting from the College of Business. He did it in two years after transferring credits from Martin Community College.

"He worked hard every fall, spring and summer," said his mom, Wanda Lilley. After the departmental graduation and events, she said, "we're going to go out to eat somewhere and celebrate."