On Friday, October 14, 2016, North Carolina Central University held its 69th Annual Convocation Day. Convocation consisted of the induction of NCCU’s newest class of Golden Eagles and honoring Dr. James E. Shepard, the founder of NCCU.

Every year on Friday, the week of homecoming, NCCU holds Convocation Day, a formal ceremony, to commemorate the death of Dr. James E. Shepard. 69 years ago Dr. James E. Shepard died in 1947. To create an everlasting remembrance for Dr. Shepard’s life and death, NCCU created Convocation Day, or Founder’s Day.

Convocation, or Founder’s Day, NCCU inducts a new class to the Golden Eagles. The Society of Golden Eagles at NCCU is an organization that each graduate class is inducted to once they have reached their 50th anniversary. This year’s induction ceremony was dedicated to the class of 1966. Dr. Patricia Hawkins Purcell, M.D. is a graduate of the class of 1966, and was also the guest speaker of the ceremony.

During her undergrad years; Dr. Purcell became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, serving as the president of the Alpha Lambda chapter during her senior year. Dr. Purcell graduated from NCCU in 1966 cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. After NCCU, Dr. Purcell went to work for A.I. DuPont de Nemour Chemical Company as a gas chromatographer in the film department, gaining on-the-job experience, she then began training new employees, even white men that were promoted before her. After four years at A.I. DuPont de Nemour Chemical Company she then went on to attend medical school at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on a full scholarship. In 2014, Dr. Purcell was honored with the prestigious Muriel E. Gilman Award for “fo everlasting leadership and support to Delaware Children and Families”. She recently was inducted into the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame.

Convocation ended with a wreath-laying ceremony. This ceremony was held to pay tribute to Dr. James E. Shepard, the founder of NCCU. After the Golden Eagle induction ceremony, everyone walked to the Hoey Administration Circle to the statue of Dr. Shepard. The wreath-laying ceremony started with the presentation of the North Carolina and US flag, then followed by NCCU’s Acting Chancellor, Dr.Johnson O. Akinleye giving a speech dedicated to Dr. Shepard and laying a wreath on his statue. Afterwards the men of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated sang the Kappa Hymn, because Dr. Shepard was a Kappa man and also founded the Alpha Kappa chapter on the campus of NCCU. Then Mr. Milton “Toby” Fitch, Grand Master Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina and Jurisdiction gave a reflection to Dr. Shepard who was a Mason, then he gifted NCCU with a monetary donation. Founder’s Day ended with a trumpet sound by Brian McCleave, a student at NCCU.