UNC at Chapel Hill celebrated its 2014 Spring Commencement on Sunday, May 11 with nearly 6,000 degree candidates. The traditional Mother's Day event brought roughly 33,000 people to Chapel Hill for a beautiful ceremony held under sunny skies. Among the graduates were several Sigma Nu brothers. Congrats to these new members of our alumni association!
UNC Chancellor Carol L. Folt presided, which also held special meaning for her. Folt is the first woman chancellor at UNC, and this was her first commencement ceremony.
"You will also forever by my very first class at Carolina..." she said. "You are the finest testament to the future of this great university I can imagine."
Surgeon and best-selling author Atul Gawande gave the keynote address, where he discussed the value of purposeful living. Reflecting on how some of his ill-advised antics ultimately laid the path of his career, Gawande's experience parallels that of many Sigma Nu alum. The Sigma Nu mission and fraternal bonds are powerful tools have shaped both your graduate and alumni experience.
Said Gawande, "It's so much simpler and less messy to hold ourselves back and stay removed in our own private realm. The trouble is... You can't flourish without larger purpose. And that's lucky in a way because our society cannot flourish without your reaching for a larger purpose, either." How did Sigma Nu give you a purpose?
The 2014 ceremony marked the beginning of several new UNC traditions... UNC will now provide graduates who have served in the military special red, white and blue honor cords to wear during commencement; 30 veteran-graduates were honored with these cords this May. Additionally, Chancellor Folt created a new ritual during which she symbolically hand-signs several diplomas. This May she signed diplomas for three Carolina Firsts—students who are the first in their families to graduate college (around 671 Carolina Firsts graduated on Mother's Day).
Sigma Nu grads in attendance experiences a special and honored rite of passage and we wish them nothing but the greatest luck and success as they continue on their journey.
What do you remember from your UNC graduation? Do you have any pictures of you and your fellow Sigma Nus in your caps and gowns? Send your memories and photos to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for future publication!
