ECU celebrates the Spring 2023 class with nearly 5,000 graduates

East Carolina University held it’s 114th annual commencement ceremony on May 5 in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium to honor 4,946 graduates in the Spring class of 2023.

Communications major graduate Sara Green said her favorite part over the years was studying abroad in Austria with psychology major graduate Isabella Silva. However they said getting the required paperwork wasn’t a good time and finals were another stressful for them.

Public health major graduate Raven Slade said her favorite part over the years were football games and seeing students coming together for them. The next stage for her, Slade said, is graduate school.

“I’m so excited I’m ready for the next chapter of life,” Slade said. “I can’t even fathom what I’m gonna do after this.”

Among the graduates were Lori Cyrus and Brianna Roberts, a mother daughter duo that completed their masters program together, according to an email written to The East Carolinian from Amberly Delariva, the sister of Roberts, who also attended ECU. Cyrus and Roberts also completed their undergraduate degree at East Carolina and even attended a class together, Delariva wrote.

The commencement started at 10 a.m. when ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers said congratulations to the graduates, recognized members of the audience and took time to honor first generation, military, full-time workers, student athletes, out of state, international and resident students of North Carolina.

“You all leave this place as Pirates, as one ECU family,” Chancellor Rogers said. “On behalf of East Carolina University, best wishes and blessings to all of you, on your journey ahead.”

Student Government Association President, Ryan Bonnet was the first of four speakers Rogers introduced. Others were Anne Ticknor, Chair of the Faculty, Scott Shook, ECU Board of Trustees chair and David Powers, a member of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. Following the speeches, five graduates were presented with the Robert H. Wright Alumni Leadership award.

Bonnet said he was grateful for all the relationships he made over the four years he attended ECU. He emphasized the support relationships brought through the hardships along his journey as a Pirate and said to continue to build lasting relationships. Bonnet said his father told him encouraging words that stuck with Bonnet.

Being a Pirate alumni means being a Pirate forever, said Bonnet. To conclude his speech Bonnet said congratulations to the Spring class of 2023 and said the graduates are well prepared for the road ahead of them.

“Enjoy college man, there's never gonna another time in your life like it,” Bonnet’s father previously said to him. “You’re surrounded by thousands of people your age, you get to live with your best friends and you just figure out life.”

Doctorate degrees in Philosophy, Education, Medicine, Dental Medicine, Audiology, Physical Therapy and Nursing Practice were awarded. Master degrees, Baccalaureate degrees and other degrees and certificates were also awarded to the almost 5,000 graduates towards the end of the ceremony.

The graduates participated in the moving of tassels tradition just before the Spring 2023 commencement was concluded with the singing of the Alma Mater by Zyion Stephens.

Ceremonies for the individual schools and colleges were held on May 5 through May 6 at various times and locations according to the ECU commencement website. Following the university commencement, the College of Engineering and Technology had their ceremony at 1 p.m. in Minges Coliseum.