Meet Ben Patton, Our Fall 2025 ECE Student Speaker
Ben Patton will address the Class of 2025 at NC State ECE’s Fall Graduation, sharing a message shaped by resilience, community and the power of connection.
December 3, 2025 
Staff
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State is proud to introduce Ben Patton as the student speaker for the Fall 2025 Commencement Ceremony.
Patton’s journey to the Reynolds Coliseum stage reflects the grit and collaboration that define the ECE experience. Over more than four years in the department, he has built lasting communities, led student initiatives and overcome challenges that extended far beyond academics.
Three years ago, Patton faced a life-altering diagnosis that required major surgery and a long recovery. That period reshaped his understanding of resilience and the importance of leaning on others. Family, friends and faculty supported him through a road that tested him in ways coursework never could. The experience informed his belief that strength is not found in doing everything alone but in knowing when to rely on those around you.
Since returning to campus, Patton has become a leader in the department. He founded a student organization that continues to thrive and has worked to support peers across the program. This year, he also accepted a full-time role in industry, a milestone he once viewed as out of reach.
“The ECE major is not something you tackle alone,” Patton said. “You need resilience, and you need connection. The people you meet along the way become your pack. They help you keep going, and you do the same for them.”
Patton’s remarks at graduation will reflect on the shared experiences that unite the Class of 2025: the late nights in the lab, the simulations that refused to cooperate, the classmates who showed up with notes or encouragement, and the faculty who pushed students to discover what they were capable of achieving.
The Fall 2025 ECE Commencement Ceremony will be held on December 11 at 11 a.m. in Reynolds Coliseum. Doors open at 10:30 a.m., and the event will be livestreamed for guests who are unable to attend in person.
Patton’s message will honor the resilience of the graduating class, the communities that supported them and the future they will shape together.
Learn more about ECE Graduation at http://ece.ncsu.edu/graduation