Ceremony Honors Resilience and Perseverance During Pandemic
Virginia Beach, VA – Each year, many ECPI University online graduates travel to Virginia to participate in commencement, along with students from the Virginia Beach campus. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented this from taking place. So, why not put on a virtual ceremony? That’s exactly what the online team did, complete with music, speakers, and presentation of degrees.
“We felt it was important that we not only honor our students’ accomplishment, but also provide an opportunity for their family, friends, associates, neighbors and co-workers, who have supported them, to join in on the celebration,” says ECPI University Vice President of eLearning and Online Education Aaron Wettstein. “This has certainly been no ordinary school year. By nature, online students are great multitaskers and highly adaptable, but the pressures of the pandemic have affected them just like everyone else. So, this is also a celebration of their perseverance.”
One of the commencement speakers was MBA graduate Matthew Sewell. “As online students, we face greater challenges than most,” said Matthew during his speech. “We did not have set schedules. Most of us worked full-time jobs and supported families. None of this is easy, yet we added school to the mix? Are we crazy? No, of course not. We weren’t crazy…we were hungry, hungry for growth and advancement.”
Mr. Wettstein says it has been inspiring to see how ECPI University’s students have risen to the occasion to support their families, friends, fellow students, and communities during these unprecedented times while remaining committed to their educational goals. “This virtual ceremony also provided us a chance to thank all of our faculty and staff who have gone above and beyond to make the online experience so meaningful for our students.
“We have received numerous emails, text messages, and phone calls from students who have told us wonderful stories of their positive experiences in the online classroom and in our virtual labs.” ECPI University faculty members and department heads were uniquely prepared to effectively manage the challenges posed by COVID-19 because it has been delivering education remotely for more than 15 years and has always sought innovative technologies to provide its students with the best online educational experience possible.
To learn more about ECPI University’s online programs, please visit www.ecpi.edu/online. A recording of the virtual commencement is available to watch online at ECPI University Online Virtual Commencement. For media inquiries, please contact ECPI University Director of Marketing at 757.490.9090 or publicrelations@ecpi.edu.
About ECPI University
ECPI University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the associate's, baccalaureate, and master's degrees. SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. A private university founded in 1966, ECPI University has campuses in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas, and offers convenient classes during the day, evening, and online; graduate employment services, continuing education, certification classes, and testing are also available.
On campus or online, fields of study include: HEALTH SCIENCES: Master of Science in Nursing, Nursing (RN to BSN), BS to BSN, Nursing (RN), Practical Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Health Information Management, Physical Therapist Assistant, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Radiography, Sonography, Surgical Technology; TECHNOLOGY: Master of Science in Information Systems, Master of Science in Cybersecurity, Cyber and Information Security Technology, Cloud Computing, Software Development, Mobile Development, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Web Design and Development, Digital Forensics Technology, Accelerated Cyber and Information Security Technology Degree, Electronics Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering Technology Systems Engineering Master's – Mechatronics, Systems Engineering Master's - Software Engineering; BUSINESS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Accounting, Business Administration, IT Management, Hospitality Management, Criminal Justice, Homeland Security; CULINARY: Culinary Arts, Culinary Nutrition, Food Service Management, Baking and Pastry Arts. (Program field availability varies by campus.) For more information, visit www.ecpi.edu.
###