50 Memorable ECPI University Graduation Quotes

A Celebration of Achievement from our Graduates and Graduation Speakers

Graduation at ECPI University is an event like no other. It’s a celebration, not just for the graduates themselves, but for the entire faculty and staff. Each graduate represents a success story, the product of a collective effort by a team of dedicated professionals.

As graduates go into the world, we like them to leave with some words of wisdom, appreciation, and guiding principles that may influence them as they begin their careers. On this, ECPI University’s 50^th anniversary, here are 50 exceptional quotes from past graduation speakers.

1. “You are the author of your life and composing your own book. Now it’s time to close the ECPI chapter and start writing new chapters; you will decide how it will read. Always stay true to yourself!”

~ Lauren McCroskey, Roanoke Campus Student Speaker

2. “Just when you think you know it all, it’s what you learn after that matters.”

~ Jerome “Chef Rome” Brown, Culinary Institute of VA Commencement Speaker

3. “Make every day new and bright, and know that every bump in the road is a chance to be better than you were yesterday and to do something great.”

~ Laura Hornbarger, Richmond/Moorefield Campus Student Speaker

4. “You can lose a job, you can lose lots of things, but no one can take away your education.

~ Chad Borich, Richmond/Moorefield Campus Student Speaker

5. “For the first time in my life, I wanted to learn. I actually enjoyed school. This desire to learn brought out character traits in me that I didn’t think I had.”

~Alex Martin, Richmond/Emerywood Campus Student Speaker

6. “I’m a strong believer that successful people don’t get lucky; they create their own opportunities.”

~ Richmond/Moorefield Campus Student Speaker Michelle Cazares

7. “Earning a degree is no longer a means to an end, but rather a beginning. College should be a time of preparation where eager minds can acquire the knowledge and skills needed for a particular profession. Yet, it is also a time to orient the mind.”

~ ECPI University President Mark Dreyfus

8. “We all fail, but the only way to succeed is to try and take chances.”

~ Congressman Dave Brat (R-Va.), Richmond Campus Commencement Speaker

10. “Education shouldn’t stop after you get your degree. Learning is a responsibility. It’s a duty…it’s a duty because it’s the only way to correct the mistakes of your past and properly prepare for the future.”

~ Jessica Shidla, Newport News Campus Student Speaker

11. “Remember that the diploma that you will hold in your hand later is just a learner’s permit for the rest of your life.”

~ Virginia Delegate Matthew James, D-Portsmouth

12. “I stand before you today as a living example to not allow people or circumstances keep you from reaching your dreams.” 

~ Stephanie Allen, Virginia Beach Student Speaker

14. “It’s not just a university, it’s an opportunity for your life. ECPI made me who I am today.”

~ Candice Daughety, Online Healthcare Administration Graduate

15. “I can’t even describe the feeling. It was amazing, such a sense of accomplishment, walking across the stage, seeing people I have been interacting with online the past two years!”

Della Deese, Online Criminal Justice Graduate

16. “For a lot of us, success didn’t come overnight; it didn’t come without commitment or sacrifice – and it was likely preceded by procrastination and doubt; that’s something we can share with others who may need a mentor one day.”

~ Ian Faulkenberry, Cyber and Network Security Graduate, Greenville Campus

17. “No matter where I go or what I accomplish, ECPI University kick-started everything for me.”

~ Lynn Lamonde, Practical Nursing Student, Roanoke Campus

19. “Something will happen that will cause you to change direction. For many of you, that’s already happened now and that’s why you’re here today. Look forward to that. That’s all part of life, the fun of life, the joy of life.”

~ Virginia Senator Frank Wagner

20. “It’s difficult to describe a typical ECPI student, because most of us are anything but typical. If I had to sum up who we are, I’d say we’re winners . . . intelligent, creative, dynamic people who are not going back to right a wrong or to finish something that was left undone years ago…we simply had to find the right place at the right time to fully realize the incredible individuals we always were.”

~ Debbie Belcher, Greenville Campus Student Speaker

22. “For many of us, this trip up the mountain was difficult and, at times, overwhelming but as we sit here now in our moment of triumph, I think we can all say that it was a satisfying and worthwhile endeavor.”

~ Gregory Dietrich, Richmond Campus Graduation Student Speaker

23. “After today, your education does not end but rather it expands into a world of possibilities…learning will continue and it is ever-evolving and you are at the forefront of learning. It is a moral duty because it is only through continuous learning that we can all add to the vast knowledge of mankind.”

~ Jeffery L. Browder, Chief Clinical Officer, Vibra Healthcare of Richmond

24. “True leadership emerges from the moments that make us most uncomfortable. Push through your feelings and do the right thing…doing the right thing doesn’t always make you popular all the time, but do it anyway.”

~ Allison Hickey, Under Secretary for Benefits, Department of Veterans Affairs

25. “Excellence is never settling for second best; always getting what you want…Committing to everything you put your mind to…Being Professional at all times, realizing the difference between what is easy and what is right…Innovation…never being afraid of change and staying sharp; leaving your mark on your respective career path.”

~ Zachary Warren, 2015 Greensboro Campus Student of the Year

26. “We’ve worked hard to get where we are today, and we’ll have to work even harder as we go into our new careers, but the lessons we’ve learned at ECPI will help us overcome any obstacle.”

~ Greenville Campus Student Speaker Debbie Belcher

27. “We have to make sure we don’t leave ECPI and forget about the “stuff” that has gotten us this far. We will need it more than ever as we compete for the careers we want and deserve.”

~ Virginia Beach Campus Student Speaker Ryan Wharton

28. “I wanted to learn from people who had worked in the criminal justice field and could relay personal experiences, not just what they read in a book.  Again, I really got what I was looking for.”

~ Samanthia Silke – Northern Virginia Campus Criminal Justice Graduate

29. “Whether you are a service member who has completed your studies from halfway around the globe, or a single mother with a book in one hand and a baby bottle in the other, we are unified in our belief that the life we were destined to live can be forged with the tools found within the classroom, and one another.”

~Brett Shanor, Virginia Beach Campus Student Speaker

30. “ECPI University has been like a second home to me. The faculty has been so great, especially Ms. Lanae Harris. She has been an inspiration. Whenever I needed a boost, she was always there with a ‘you can do it!’ And the best thing is: I did do it.”

~Thomas Cevora, Web Development Graduate

31. “If something doesn’t work the first time, you have to try again. Try just a little bit harder because you never know what will happen if you don’t try.”

~ Laura Hornbarger, Richmond/Moorefield Campus Student Speaker

32. “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not. The world is filled with educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

~ Virginia Beach Commencement Speaker Craig Quigley – Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.) quoting President Calvin Coolidge

33. “So many of them are full-time husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, and even single parents; I don’t know how they did it, but they proved that no matter your circumstance, regardless of how old you are, you are never too old or too young to go after what you want.”

~ Richmond/Moorefield Campus Student Speaker Michelle Cazares

34.“I would highly recommend ECPI University’s online program to anyone who wants to get the best value for their money with an education that will last a lifetime.”

~Candice Daughety, Online Healthcare Administration Graduate

35. “My experience with ECPI University was very positive. I learned so many things which I know will be helpful in my future life in America.”

~ Anna Keforenko, International Student, Charlotte Campus

37. “The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” These words are emblematic of the attitude that drives so many ECPI University graduates as they have sought to further their education.”

~ ECPI University President Mark Dreyfus

38. “If you believe in what you’re doing, you do whatever it takes to reach your goal.”

~ Lynn Lamonde, Practical Nursing Student, Roanoke Campus

40. "If you can dream it, you can achieve it. It’s a journey to be traveled with resilience. It’s a journey to be traveled with tenacity. It’s a journey to be traveled with faith. It’s a journey to be traveled with hope. It’s a journey, not a destination!"

~ Clare Nyaanga, Raleigh Campus Student Speaker

41. “I is with complete humility that I proudly say I will no longer tell my children to not be like me. I hope they’re as proud of me as I am of them.”

~ Greenville Campus Student Speaker Debbie Belcher

43. “It’s been a very long journey, but I am so grateful for the life I now have.”

~ Samanthia Silke – Northern Virginia Campus Student Speaker

45. “We have shared in one another’s laughter, like family. We have consoled one another’s tears, like family.  We have challenged one another’s patience, like family. And today, alongside each and every one of you, we will cross this stage together…like family.”

~ Brett Shanor, Virginia Beach Campus Student Speaker

46. “I discovered a great deal about myself these past three years. First, I am a lot stronger than I ever thought I was.”

~ Thomas Cevora, Web Development Graduate

47. “My teachers made every effort to make sure we understood what we were learning. They were determined to make sure that no one was left behind.”

~ Yolanda Worthy, Greenville Campus Nursing Graduate

48. “It’s not easy raising three children, working full-time, and going to school. There were times I wanted to quit, but my advisors and teachers really stuck by, encouraging and motivating me. I will always be grateful for that.”

~ Della Deese, Online Criminal Justice Graduate

49. “I have long viewed ECPI University as a place for second chances. Many of our graduates have tried college before. Others were derailed by difficult circumstances, yet a desire to achieve and obtain valuable skills continued to move them forward.”

~ ECPI University President Mark Dreyfus

50. “An education is an opportunity you can keep cashing in…over and over and over again.”

~ Chad Borich, Richmond/Moorefield Campus Student Speaker

If these quotes inspire you to think more about your education, contact an ECPI University admissions advisor today to see if we can help you take the next step on your career path. Whether you are looking to begin your education with an associates degree or advance your career with a master’s degree, ECPI University has opportunities, online and on campus, to suit many different needs.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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