Graduation Celebration
More than 300 graduate from the College of Engineering and Technology
Carlos Schwarzbauer watched as his oldest daughter, Yordana Schwarzbauer, posed for a picture with her younger sisters.
“She’s my baby. I’m going to cry again,” he said.
Yordana Schwarzbauer had just graduated from East Carolina University with her bachelor’s in engineering, one of 320 College of Engineering and Technology students who heard their names and crossed the stage during the Graduate Recognition Ceremony on Friday in Minges Coliseum.
“Finally, it’s over,” said Jeffrey Koopman, a design graduate from the Department of Technology Systems. “I’ve literally been counting down for the last 31 days. I have a calendar on my door and now it’s marked off.”
Want to see more?
For more than 80 photographs from the College of Engineering and Technology Graduate Recognition Ceremony, view the Facebook photo gallery.
Koopman has a job lined up as a reliability engineer at a dairy farm near his hometown of Roseboro, but on Friday, he was thinking about his time at ECU.
“It’s hard to sum it up the last 2 1/2 years,” he said. “It was good overall.”
Essence Anderson is congratulated on stage during the Graduate Recognition Ceremony.
Essence Anderson was doing more than just graduating with her bachelor’s in industrial technology. She was the first in line for her degree program, making her the line leader for the procession into Minges Coliseum.
“I’m very anxious,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t know where to go.”
With a concentration in bioprocess manufacturing and a minor in industrial management, she has set herself up to further her career with Bristol Myers Squibb.
She said she had plenty of family attending the ceremony on Friday.
“They’re very excited. I’m the first in the family to get my degree. They could barely sleep last night,” she said.
Anderson was enthusiastic as well.
“I’m excited — no more homework. It’s pretty awesome,” she said.
Dr. Harry Ploehn, dean of the College of Engineering and Technology, celebrated the graduates, congratulating them on what he called a great accomplishment and encouraging them to stay in touch with the college.
“Keep trying to do your best and never, never give up on yourself,” he said. “… Whether it’s a new job, the next job or grad school, you all have new horizons waiting for you as Pirates to go and capture. Based on your accomplishments so far, we have every reason to believe that you will triumph in your next Pirate adventure. Congratulations graduates, and now let’s celebrate.”
A graduate gets a hug after walking across the stage during the College of Engineering and Technology Graduate Recognition Ceremony.