September 23, 2023 | Sarah Fetters
UNCW alumni celebrate the pinning of their legacy students.
What is a legacy?
a. Leaving an impact.
b. Creating a memory.
c. Passing down a tradition.
At UNCW, it’s all the above.
During Family Weekend, the UNCW Alumni Association honored legacy families. A UNCW Legacy is a student with a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, sibling or spouse who has attended or is currently attending UNCW. Alumni with current legacy students celebrated leaving an impact, created a memory and passed down the Seahawk family tradition during the Legacy Pinning Ceremony.
“Together you continue to inspire and share Seahawk pride,” Executive Director of the UNCW Alumni Association Lindsay LeRoy said. “We’re proud of our university’s history and traditions, which are represented by the alumni in the room, and we’re excited about UNCW’s future, our students.”
Wanda Coley '96 pins her daughter, Tatyana Frink '14.
The doors opened at 10:30 a.m. for the pinning ceremony with families entering to collages of student, alumni and family photos projected on the Kenan Auditorium’s screens. After brief remarks, legacy students and Seahawk relatives were brought on stage for relatives to pin their legacy students.
“As UNCW alumni, I know firsthand you will have an amazing experience here,” UNCW Alumni Association Board of Directors member Wanda Coley '96 said. “When I enrolled at UNCW I was now what we call a nontraditional student. I was a single parent raising a daughter. I was determined to be a good role model for her. And I’m so proud to have her with me today. She is a Seahawk class of 2014 and accomplishing amazing things personally and professionally.”
More than 300 Seahawks came together inside the auditorium for this year’s ceremony.
“I hope you continue to support your alma mater with pride, whatever your form of alumni engagement, as you strengthen the Seahawk family and alumni network,” LeRoy said.
Eighteen current students were pinned by parents who both attended UNCW. Seahawk pride comes from all parts of the family as Katherine Mayer was on stage with her aunt and two uncles who are Seahawk graduates. Two legacy students had Seahawk spirit from all corners growing up and were pinned by a parent and aunt who are graduates. Four legacy students continued their family traditions of attending UNCW as each had a parent and sibling who are graduates.
As UNCW continues to transform lives, it will for generations of graduates who pass on their Seahawk spirit and inspiration.