Elizabeth City, N.C. — Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) hosted its 179th Commencement Ceremony at the R.L. Vaughan Center, conferring degrees to 242 graduates. The program included recognition of top academic honors, a special acknowledgment of historical achievements from female graduates from the 1960s and 1970s, and a keynote address from Dr. Jackie Walters—a renowned OB-GYN, author, entrepreneur and Bravo's "Married to Medicine" cast member.
Dr. Walters touched down in Elizabeth City and instantly connected with the place and the people. Now living in Atlanta, Ga, a city of approximately over 500,000, Dr. Walters acknowledged the Harbor of Hospitality as no strange land to her.
"You don't know how at home I feel because I'm from a small town in Mississippi," Dr. Jackie said.
She inspired the audience with her wisdom, candor and powerful call to action. A two-time breast cancer survivor and advocate for women's health, Dr. Walters challenged graduates to make the most of their journey ahead with her concept of time. In a touching reminder, she said, "Time is a gift, not a guarantee."
Dr. Walters urged graduates to acknowledge their village. "Let me remind you to look around the room. Look at the countless prayers, sacrifices, and unwavering support that came from your family, your friends, the staff, people who prayed for you, people who paid for you, people who lifted you up, people who believed in you when you couldn't believe in yourself. Today, I want you to change the 'I did this' to 'We did this!'"
Honoring Academic Excellence
Top honors during the commencement ceremony included recognition of the Bearer of the Mace—the student or students who enter ECSU as a first-time freshman and leave with the highest cumulative GPA in the prospective graduating class, and the Bearer of the Shield—the student or students who enter ECSU as a transfer student and have the highest cumulative GPA in the prospective graduating class.
Among those graduates are this year's Bearers of the Mace—Kaleigh Booker, Tavonda Fields and Gabrielle Morgan and Bearer of the Shield—Brandi Umstead.
A Historic Recognition
In a special moment, Interim Chancellor Catherine Edmonds honored female graduates from the 1960s and 1970s who were not eligible to receive the Bearer of the Mace distinction before the enactment of the 1972 Title IX law—a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding. Interim Chancellor Edmonds said, "This distinction was considered a male-only privilege."
Among them were Sandra Trotman Jones, the top graduate of 1966; Heddy Basnight Sykes, the top graduate of 1967; and Queen Ester Moore, the top graduate of 1971.
"Today, we take this opportunity to publicly celebrate and honor these exceptional women whose academic achievements paved the way for future generations,” Edmonds said.
Interim Chancellor Edmonds also acknowledged the efforts of those responsible for making the recognition happen.
"Thanks to the dedicated efforts of ECSU's Dr. Glenn Bowman, history professor; Mrs. Karen Lucas, vice chancellor for enrollment management; and Mrs. Page Hendrickson, the university archivist, we have identified the exceptional women who would have earned this recognition," Edmonds.
A Celebration of Legacy and Achievement
From the graduates crossing the stage to the alumni who returned to witness the occasion, ECSU's 179th Commencement celebrated resilience, community and progress. For the class of Fall 2024, this ceremony marked not just an ending but a beginning—a launch into a future shaped by the values, knowledge and strength they gained at ECSU.