College of The Albemarle (COA) hosted its spring commencement ceremonies on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at COA – Dare and 5:00 p.m. at COA – Elizabeth City.  We celebrated 255 graduates earning 266 degrees/diplomas during the ceremonies.

Dr. Jack Bagwell, COA President, delivered remarks at both ceremonies.  Abby O’Neal was the student speaker for the COA – Dare ceremony, and Riley Parker and Sean Whidbee were the featured student speakers for COA – Elizabeth City’s ceremony.

Damaris Ambrosio-Reyes was awarded the President’s Service Cup for 2024.  The President’s Service Cup is a graduating student’s most prestigious recognition at COA. It recognizes excellence in the classroom, those making significant contributions of service to the college, and those who are active in student activities and their local community.

President Bagwell presents the President’s Service Cup to Damaris Ambrosio-Reyes

Ambrosio-Reyes has been actively involved in the Executive Board of COA’s Student Government Association, serving as president and vice president over the past two years. She attends church in her local Chowan community and volunteers, helping members of the Hispanic community who have questions about attending college. Damaris plans to pursue a career in law and is considering attending UNC-Chapel Hill.

The recipients of COA’s Campus Cups were the President’s Service Cup Award nominees.  The COA Campus Cup recipients included Austin Thompson, COA – Currituck; Gazelle Enciso-Ramirez, COA – Dare; Damaris Ambrosio-Reyes, COA – Edenton-Chowan; and Sevil Gulmammadova, COA – Elizabeth City.

COA 2024 Graduate Erin Kelley presented her diploma by her mother, COA Associate Professor of Psychology Tammy Kelley

“May 8th was a day of celebration for so many families throughout Northeastern North Carolina as our COA graduates walked across the stage, transforming their tomorrows,” said President Bagwell. During his commencement remarks, he encouraged students to “Look at your graduation as a new beginning and always remember the reasons that propelled you to embark on your academic journey. You set goals, made commitments, and persevered until you achieved them. As C.S. Lewis once said, ‘You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.’ I sincerely hope you will continue striving for remarkable accomplishments.”

College of The Albemarle wishes our graduates the best in their future endeavors.

College of The Albemarle Spring 2024 Graduates:

(AA – Associate in Arts, AAS – Associate in Applied Science, AFA – Associate in Fine Arts, AGE – Associate in General Education, AS – Associate in Science, DIP – Diploma)

For information or media inquiries, contact Tammy W. Sawyer, COA Director of Communications and Marketing, at [email protected] or 252-335-0821, ext. 2420.