Barnes earns honorary degree during commencement

In addition to its hundreds of graduates who earned degrees May 3, the College of Health and Human Performance celebrated that HHP alum Ronnie Barnes delivered the keynote address during East Carolina spring 2024 commencement at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and Barnes was acknowledged with an ECU honorary degree.

Barnes, who in 1975 became the first African American graduate of the sports medicine program at the university, received the ECU honorary degree of Doctor of Letters.

Full coverage of the campus-wide ceremony, highlighting ECU’s Class of 2024 of approximately 4,950 graduates, including 795 first-generation college graduates, was provided by ECU News Services with quotes, photos and video.

Faculty member Michael Daniels, who served as an HHP Voice of the Graduates, high-fives graduates after a graduation ceremony in Minges Coliseum. (Photo by Ronnie Woodward)

Barnes was supported by Chancellor Dr. Philip Rogers, Provost Dr. Robin Coger, ECU Board of Trustees and other representatives as he talked to graduates about challenges, resiliency and success.

“If there is one lesson I have learned throughout my own journey, it’s this: Resilience is not merely the ability to endure hardships, but the power to transform them into opportunities for growth,” Barnes said. “As you embark on this next chapter of your life, I urge you to embrace the challenges that lie ahead with the same resilience and determination that has brought you to this moment. Setbacks are not failures but opportunities for growth, and the path to success is rarely straight. Embrace the challenges, cherish the moments and never forget the strength that lies within you.”

He concluded his remarks by suggesting graduates honor the university motto, Servire, and serve with empathy, compassion and kindness.

Barnes’ impact at ECU and in his professional field is layered in accomplishment, publication, commitment and leadership. Many HHP students view Barnes, who has been named National Professional Trainer of the Year by the National Athletic Trainers Association, Athletic Trainer of the Year by NFL physicians, ECU’s College of Health and Human Performance Centennial Leader and inducted into the New York Giants Ring of Honor, National Athletic Trainers Association’s Hall of Fame, North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and ECU Athletics Hall of Fame, as a role model. HHP greatly appreciates his guest lectures, visits and support of HHP programs and ECU initiatives.

He has used his expertise on sports medicine topics to lecture nationally and internationally, and authored a textbook, titled, “Athletic Training and Sports Medicine.” At ECU, Barnes has been a major donor in establishing the Ronnie P. Barnes Endowment for Athletic Training as well as the Ronnie Barnes African American Resource Endowment and the Ronnie Barnes Resource Center for Joyner Library.

Within HHP, the college held a spring 204 graduation recognition ceremony to celebrate graduates in health education and promotion, interior design and merchandising and social work, followed by a graduation recognition ceremony to celebrate graduates in human development and family science, recreation sciences and kinesiology. The next day, HHP also continued the tradition of celebrating its Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC units with Second Lieutenant Commissioning Ceremonies held at the A.J. Fletcher Music Center.