ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Standing before the spring Class of 2025 with the same passion that made Stomp a praise anthem and I Smile a global declaration of hope, 20-time Grammy Award-winning gospel music legend Kirk Franklin didn't sing. Instead, he testified.
To a sea of caps and gowns in the Vaughan Center, Franklin told the graduates about the importance of value, overcoming difficult situations, and resisting the urge to be "mid."
However, the message didn't come without personal stories from Franklin's life.
Abandoned by his mother and father and adopted when he was four years old by a 64-year-old woman with only a fourth-grade education, Franklin used his life experiences, trials and triumphs to tell graduates that nothing is by accident.
"The woman who adopted me, her name was Gertrude, and she recycled newspapers and cans to pay for my piano lessons for five dollars. Every Friday at 4:00, I'd go to Mrs. Jackson's house and learn piano."
It was a deeply personal message from a man whose music has healed millions. This time, his instrument was his voice alone. Raised in poverty and rejection, Franklin told ECSU's graduates that their paths, no matter how winding, are purposeful. According to Franklin, an intentional life is never too comfortable in the pursuit.
"Everyone has gotten comfortable: the work ethic, the contribution, the ambition, the drive. No one wants to pursue the higher level, so we get 'mid' at every experience," Franklin said. "Young men and women, you are about to enter a society where people celebrate accomplishments, but they are happening at a lower level."
Franklin stood to challenge the audience to push beyond mediocre and ordinary.
Known for blending gospel with hip-hop, R&B and pop, Franklin has long defied labels, just as he encouraged graduates to defy the odds. From his SiriusXM channel Kirk Franklin's Praise to Netflix and BET features, to topping Billboard's Gospel Songwriters chart for over 100 weeks, his career is a masterclass in not letting where you started dictate where you finish.
"I'm trying to speak to the little boy that didn't get a chance to make his momma proud," he continued. "I'm speaking to somebody who may feel like nobody sees them and that your labor, you feel, is in vain. I need you to understand that all of that is a lie. Everything you're doing at this moment is very, very intentional. No luck, no coincidence. It's all a divine plan."
Honoring Academic Excellence
ECSU conferred 212 degrees—189 undergraduate and 23 graduate degrees—at the commencement ceremony.
Interim Chancellor Catherine Edmonds addressed the graduates, showing her appreciation for their dedication to the journey and allowing ECSU to be a part of their story.
"Thank you for allowing Elizabeth City State University to become a part of the rich and colorful tapestry of your life," Edmonds said. "Over the past few years, you have grown, persevered and achieved academically, personally and professionally."
Top honors 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 is this year's Bearer of the Mace—Alexis D. Neathery, biology; and Bearers of the Shield—Victoria Blount, criminal justice; Raymond Bugarin, aviation science; Chelsea Patrick, interdisciplinary studies; Micah Tucker, kinesiology and Anna Zak, elementary education.
During the ceremony, sorrow stood alongside strength, as the ECSU community stood for a moment of silence for Isaiah Caldwell, who tragically lost his life in the April 27 on-campus shooting during the university's annual VikingFest celebration.
"In recent days, our campus community experienced the unimaginable, claiming the life of one and injuring others. In times like these, we are reminded of the strength and resilience that define us as Vikings. We lean on one another, uplift one another, and find hope in the unity of our ECSU family," said Edmonds.
For some, Franklin's speech was a keynote. For others, it was a breakthrough.
He reminded the class of 2025 that success doesn't begin with applause or accolades. Instead, it starts with showing up—scars and all—and believing that your story still matters.
The ceremony also honored the families, faculty and community members who stood behind the graduates, much like how Gertrude once stood behind a little boy with big dreams and five-dollar piano lessons.
As tassels turned for the spring 2025 graduates, Franklin left them with more than a message. He left them a mission: to not avoid the pain of growth.
Interim Chancellor Edmonds gave the charge to the graduates as their final lesson of the semester, and encouraged them to tell the university's story, and more importantly, write their own. "Let your accomplishments be a beacon of what is possible with hard work, faith and determination. You stand today at the threshold of opportunities. Walk through the doorway with purpose and confidence. The world is waiting for your ideas, your voice and your vision."