Marshall to Campbell graduates: ‘Never fear being first’

North Carolina Secretary of State, Campbell Law alumna delivers commencement address in first graduation ceremony under President William Downs

Elaine Marshall is no stranger to overcoming obstacles.

The 1981 Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law alumna became the first woman ever elected to a statewide executive branch office in North Carolina when she became secretary of state in 1997 (a position she's now held for nearly 30 years). Before then, she shattered glass ceilings as a business owner and a state senator and party chairman in her native Harnett County.

Marshall returned to Buies Creek on Saturday to deliver the commencement address for Campbell University's winter graduation ceremony, held in Gore Arena at the John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center. In her message to the more than 250 graduates and their families on hand, she encouraged the new alumni to take the opportunities set before them, turn their setbacks into strengths and "never fear being first."

"Throughout history, many breakthroughs began with somebody willing to take one step that no one had taken before," Marshall said. "We know very well the story of the Wright brothers and first man flight on the dunes of the Outer Banks of North Carolina 120 years ago. And I'm honored and humbled to be recognized as another first in North Carolina.

"You've had people underestimate you, overlook you or dismiss you … or decide that they knew you before they ever met you. But never fear being first. Somebody has to be first. If you can turn doubt into determination, it could be you."

Saturday marked another significant "first" - it was the first commencement ceremony led by Campbell University's sixth president, Dr. William M. Downs. Downs, who took office on July 1, joked that the graduates were "leaving me way too soon," and encouraged the group to celebrate the promise each of them carry forth from Campbell - a promise of a meaningful and rewarding future.

"Graduation is more formally called 'commencement,' because we know you are turning the page on one chapter [and] truly beginning a new chapter in your life - a life of service, a life of purpose and a life of continued learning. And with this new chapter, this new beginning, your future is bright, the path is clear and your potential is limitless. The world outside of Gore Arena awaits you. And it is our privilege to be with you and to send you off in style."

In her parting words, Marshall told her audience that Campbell University graduates do not simply enter the world, they improve it.

"You are ready to teach the young, heal the sick, build new technologies, start businesses, lead with integrity, serve your communities, fight for justice and solve real problems with genuine compassion," she said. "And when obstacles arise - and they will - you know what to do with them. Step over them.

"Choose mission over margins. Choose courage over comfort. Choose character over convenience. And turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones."

Hallmarks of a Campbell graduate

Going all the way back to the school's founding in a small, rural schoolhouse in 1887, the history and mission of Campbell University reveals a deep devotion to cultivating character aligned with a sense of calling and initiative. In 2024, Campbell received a large grant funded through the support of Lilly Endowment Inc. and Wake Forest University to create "a distinct undergraduate learning experience that integrates the hallmarks of character, initiative and calling."

Saturday's graduates were among the first to have experienced "character education" in their undergraduate curriculum, and a few of those who walk the stage shared which hallmark stuck with them most during their Campbell journey.

For Paige Fink, a political science (pre-law) major from East Wenatchee, Washington, "calling" connected with her most during her time in Buies Creek.

"Campbell provided me with my first step toward becoming an attorney. As I progressed into my major and took law-related courses, I realized that this is what I want to do with my life. Dr. Jaclyn Stanke and Dr. Ethan Alexander-Davey were both passionate about the subjects they taught, and they challenged my views to increase my critical thinking and analytical skills. Their rigorous curriculum kept me engaged, and they helped me see my potential as an aspiring attorney."

Initiative stood out for Geniya Williams, a communication studies (pre-law) major from Goldsboro. Williams said before she came to Campbell, she always waited for others to lead because she was afraid of messing up.

"But through clubs, sorority life and residence life, Campbell taught me that initiative is about having the courage to lead and that leadership looks different on everyone," Williams said. "I am now a proud leader. After graduation, I plan to serve in the United States Navy in hopes of becoming a JAG officer."

And for English major Shelby Heinisch from Bear Grass, a town of about 89 people near Greenville, "character" was a sticking point for the soon-to-be middle school or high school English teacher.

"Not only did I grow as a person and student, I became more active in my community, and I found an amazing church and grew closer to the Lord," Heinisch said. "The people at Campbell - professors, staff and students - all push you to become the best version of yourself."

Remembering Dr. Cogdill

Saturday's ceremony came just days after the death of Campbell University Divinity School Founding Dean and longtime professor Dr. Michael Cogdill.

Cogdill arrived at Campbell in 1979 to serve as assistant professor in the Department of Religion and Philosophy, and in 1997, the University chose him to lead its new graduate theological school. Cogdill and his team created the mission statement that defined the vision and ethos of the school: "To provide Christ-centered, Bible-based, and ministry-focused theological education."

Karen Hamilton Lucas, a 2020 Divinity School graduate, delivered the scripture reading at the ceremony - Psalm 100, a psalm for "giving grateful praise" - and remembered Cogdill's love for Graduation Day, as he often called it "a high and holy day."

"It's a high and holy day, because sometimes we just need to stop and give God praise for how far he has brought us," Lucas said. "And that's what Psalm 100 is all about. It's written for special days like today … to say, 'Thank you, God, for bringing me this far.'"

Downs led a moment of silence for Cogdill, saying his contributions to Campbell have shaped generations of students.

"His legacy is lived out each and every day on our campus in our commitment to Christ-centered education," he said.

Service honored

Campbell honored 2020 Master of Science in Public Health graduate Sterling Ta'Bon on Saturday with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, recognizing his "unwavering commitment to service, leadership and community impact."

After graduating from Campbell at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ta'Bon became a program coordinator for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. The following year, he became the communities and care coordinator for that state's Department of Health, and in 2023, he became the health schools manager and consultant for Cairn Guidance, which focuses on connecting with schools, nonprofits and health systems to enact change to advance the goals of health and learning in children. He is also co-founder and director of DiamondStackz Classic, a nonprofit focused on the development of children through leadership, sports, arts and service mentorship.

In accepting the award, Ta'Bon credited everyone who "intentionally and sometimes unintentionally" directed his path.

"These are the individuals that bear that award," he said. "Me, myself, I'm not the one. It's the individuals that have consistently poured into my life. For you graduates, your work and your sacrifices are shared by generations that are going to come before you, and they're going to come after you. So be proud of yourself. Each generation is tasked with a new challenge. One that needs each person to learn what forms their greater selves for the greater good. Be your greatest self for the greater good."

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