Elizabeth City, NC — Long before Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) became known for aviation, STEM and producing leaders across multiple industries, the institution was founded with a targeted mission: preparing teachers to change lives in classrooms across North Carolina. More than a century later, Alyssa Hailey Riggs is preparing to continue that legacy as both a future educator and the Bearer of the Mace—the student who entered ECSU as a first-time freshman and has the highest cumulative GPA in the graduating class.
Established in 1891 as a normal school for training Black educators, ECSU later evolved into Elizabeth City State Teachers College, awarding its first bachelor’s degrees in elementary education in 1939.
Riggs, an Elizabeth City native graduating this Saturday with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Social Studies, said she entered ECSU without complete certainty about the path she wanted to pursue. But through her experiences in the university’s elementary education program, she found clarity in both her calling and her future.
“I wasn’t completely sure at the beginning, but after completing this program at ECSU, I’m confident that I want to be an educator,” Riggs said. “My experiences in the elementary education department helped me realize that working with young learners is exactly where I belong and where I can make the most impact.”
For Riggs, that realization became one of the most meaningful parts of her college journey.
She said the elementary education department gave her hands-on classroom experience while helping her understand how to support and engage young learners. Along the way, faculty members helped shape both her professional growth and personal confidence.
“The entire elementary education department at ECSU has had a strong influence on both my academic and personal growth,” Riggs said. “Their guidance helped me become more confident in lesson planning, classroom management and understanding how young children learn best. I know I can always count on Dr. Williams and Dr. Ezeh to support me!”
Riggs described her ECSU experience in one word: transformative.
“My time at ECSU, especially in the elementary education program, changed how I see myself and my future,” she said.
During her time at ECSU, Riggs balanced coursework, field experiences and personal responsibilities while developing stronger time management and organizational skills. She said those experiences helped her become more confident, patient and prepared for the classroom.
Her growth and leadership will be recognized through one of the university’s highest student honors—being selected as Bearer of the Mace for her graduating class.
Traditionally carried during commencement ceremonies, the ceremonial mace represents academic authority, leadership and the university’s enduring traditions. As bearer of the mace, Riggs will help lead the commencement processional, symbolizing both academic achievement and service to the university community.
After graduation, Riggs hopes to begin teaching in a local elementary school district this fall. She also plans to eventually return to ECSU to pursue a master’s degree in elementary education.
“My ‘why’ is growing into the best version of myself through learning and experience,” Riggs said. “ECSU has pushed me to become more confident, patient, and prepared for my future.”
For Riggs, the future now feels certain. It is rooted in the same mission ECSU was founded upon more than 130 years ago: preparing educators who will make an impact in the lives of others.