241 turn tassels at ECSU's 178th commencement

Christopher Ingram was among the 241 students earning a degree from Elizabeth City State University during Saturday’s 178th commencement.

But Saturday also was the first time that the 34-year-old Lanham, Maryland, native had ever stepped on the ECSU campus.

That’s because Ingram, who earned a graduate degree in mathematics, was able to complete his entire graduate program online.

“It think it’s cool,” he said of his first impression of the ECSU campus. “It’s smaller than I expected but it’s a good campus.”

Ingram, whose undergraduate degree is from the University of Maryland at Eastern Shore, is a middle school math teacher.

Also accepting his master’s degree on Saturday was Khadimou Dia, a biology graduate student who next hopes to attend school to become a dentist. Dia earned his bachelor’s degree in biology pre-med at ECSU, too.

Dia said he is still undecided on which university he will attend to earn his doctor of dental medicine degree.

Ingram and Dia were among the 14 students receiving a graduate degree from ECSU at Saturday’s commencement. Another 227 were like Littleton native Dy’Ashia Boyd, who received her undergraduate degree.

Boyd, who earned her bachelor of science in criminal justice, said one of the things she’ll miss most about ECSU is the campus environment and the relationships she formed while attending the university.

Jaiden Love, from Winston-Salem, earned her bachelor’s degree in child family communications.

“I want to own my own daycare,” she said.

Earning the title of 2024 Bearer of the Mace for outstanding academic performance was Benjamin Parham, an aviation science graduate from Surf City.

There also were two co-recipients of the Bearer of the Shield: Brianne Ashley, an interdisciplinary studies major from Gates; and Aron Stamper, a South Mills native who majored in sustainability studies.

ECSU presents the Bearer of the Mace award to the student who enrolled as a first-time freshman and achieved the highest cumulative grade-point average in their graduating class. The Bearer of the Mace is presented to the student, or students, who transferred into ECSU and achieved the highest GPA in their graduating class.

Welcoming graduates and their family and friends to Saturday’s commencement was Dr. Stephanie Johnson, a 1973 ECSU graduate and member of the ECSU Board of Trustees. Providing the greetings were Gene Davis, a member of the UNC Board of Governors, and Jay’Quahn Blackledge, a member of the Class of 2024 and president of the ECSU Student Government Association.

ECSU Chancellor Karrie Dixon provided the closing remarks.