Standing at the podium inside Elizabeth City State University’s Fine Arts Center, Judge J.C. Cole wasn’t just delivering a speech—he was honoring the institution that had been a backdrop to his childhood. At the convocation ceremony for the institution’s 134th Founders Day, Judge Cole took the audience on a journey, not just through his own life but through the changing landscape of Elizabeth City itself. Though not an ECSU graduate, Cole’s roots still run deep.
“I am not a graduate here, but I am deeply rooted in the legacy of this school,” he said.
Judge Cole began his speech with reflections and gratitude, not of an ECSU alumnus, but of a little boy who grew up on a farm in Weeksville, riding the school bus past ECSU on his way to Pasquotank Elementary, and watching the world beyond his family’s farm unfold in new and fascinating ways. To an attentive audience, he recalled the old drive-thru movie theater that once stood where the Fine Arts Center is now.
Something caught his eye as he passed the Coast Guard base on those early morning rides to school. Cole wanted to fly. He envisioned himself as a pilot with the hum of engines and the blue sky calling him toward a future in aviation. He even took steps toward that dream, traveling to Florida for flight school.
Yet life, as it often does, charted a different course. The skies did not become his home, but the courtroom did. Instead of aviation, law became his calling, shaping a career dedicated to justice and service. As he stood before the ECSU community, he reflected on the irony and beauty of life’s twists—how the very university he once passed as a child now boasts an aviation program of its own.
“ECSU has transformed into an institution that embraces both its proud past and its forward-thinking future. One of the cornerstones of this future is the robust development of the university’s aviation program. That’s why this aviation program is so near and dear to my heart. It prepares students for aviation management, flight training and aerospace technology careers,” Cole said.
Honoring the Legacy
The spirit of legacy was alive in more ways than one. The families of the founders of Elizabeth City State University were present. Among them was Donnice Elizabeth Brown, the great-granddaughter of Dr. John H. Bias, one of ECSU’s earliest leaders who served from 1928 to 1939.
Her words were simple yet profound—a reminder that the foundation laid over a century ago is still being built upon today. “Continue with the legacy of education. Continue to shine bright,”
Elizabeth City State University’s Founder’s Day reflects its rich history and continued growth. Established in 1891 through the efforts of Hugh Cale, an African American legislator from Pasquotank County, ECSU began as Elizabeth City State Colored Normal School with a mission to train teachers for North Carolina’s common schools. Under the leadership of its first principal, Peter W. Moore, and later John Henry Bias, the institution expanded from a two-year normal school to a four-year teachers’ college, eventually becoming Elizabeth City State University in 1969.
Today, ECSU offers over 30 academic programs in business, aviation, education and health care, equipping students with the skills needed for the global workforce. The university remains committed to academic excellence, technological innovation and student success. Founder’s Day highlights this legacy while reinforcing the importance of continued support and investment in ECSU and other HBCUs to sustain their impact on future generations.
Judge Cole’s final words gave life to this mission the ECSU’s founders established.
“Their vision was bold to establish a place of learning that would uplift individuals, strengthen communities and open doors to a brighter future. For over a century, ECSU has honored that vision and has served as a beacon of knowledge. Many of these students have walked onto this campus as eager learners and left as leaders, educators and entrepreneurs carrying the Viking spirit wherever they go,” Cole said.
Concluding the Founders Day weekend, the 18th Annual Founders Day Scholarship Gala took place Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the K.E. White Graduate Center. This black-tie affair celebrated ECSU’s enduring legacy and honored alumni and community leaders who have significantly contributed to the university’s rich history. Proceeds from the event supported the ECSU Foundation’s General Scholarship Fund.
In her opening remarks, Interim Chancellor Catherine Edmonds stated, “As we celebrate our shared legacy, let us also look ahead to the future with a renewed sense of purpose. Together, we will continue to foster an environment where knowledge is nurtured, ideas are challenged, and lasting impact is made on our state, country, and the world.”
While many things established 134 years ago have seen better days, ECSU continues to thrive and prove that its legacy is enduring, and on a foundation built to last.