Commencement Remarks

Mark Alan Taggart, Chair of the Faculty

May 5, 2007

Thank you, Chancellor Ballard. Good morning, graduates, families and friends! On behalf of the faculty At East Carolina University, please allow me to extend my heartfelt greetings and congratulations to each and every one of you on this special day!

In my many years as a faculty member, I have enjoyed observing the cyclical events that make up each academic year. I particularly enjoy the last few weeks of the semester, leading up to final exams. In my home unit in the School of Music, this is the time of year where the Fletcher Music building is buzzing with electricity. The practice rooms are suddenly full, with students squeezing in some extra practice time in preparation for their juries or senior recitals. Our wind ensembles, concert choirs, jazz ensembles, and symphony orchestra are busily preparing for their final concerts of the spring. It is exhilarating to ride upon this tidal wave of energy, and to feed off of the excitement and anticipation. I am sure that this experience is common throughout our campus this time of year.

Then, after final exams and commencement, poof! The energy subsides. Hallways that once flowed with activity are now empty, leaving only shadows and silences. One cycle ends, but another one will soon begin.

Graduates, while you were here, you have experienced this cycle a few times. You’ve experienced the exhilaration of meeting your challenges and succeeding. Soon you will move into a new phase of your life, and you will set new goals. You will have experiences that will revolve around in different cyclical patterns. They may lead to graduate school, careers, marriages, and families. Then your sons and daughters may want to come to ECU, where their pattern of cycles will begin again. ECU will be here for you!

Good luck graduates! Congratulations!