More than 800 doctoral, master’s degree and baccalaureate graduates received their diplomas at Morgan State University’s 147th Spring Commencement on May 18.

A Marine Corps veteran who earned his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science is now headed to Austin, Texas, to work as a software engineer for Google.

Don-Terry Veal Jr. became the first student to receive a degree in Morgan’s 3+2 dual degree program with Purdue University.

Veal will take his newly conferred Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics to Purdue this fall to begin work in the Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering master’s degree program there.

Bachelor of Science in Social Work graduates Desiree Lane and Khalia Scott joined Class Valedictorian Cordelia Otono as recipients of the School of Social Work’s Dr. Mildred McKinney Outstanding Community Service Award.

Lane and Scott gained recognition this year for their research on Ethical Considerations in Using AI in Social Work Education and Practice.

Samuel Esson Jonah, a renowned Ghanaian engineer, gave the keynote address for the Undergraduate Exercises, highlighting the university’s global reach and impact.

Valerie LaVerne Thomas, Ed.D., a Bachelor of Science in Physics graduate of Morgan’s Class of 1964, received an honorary doctorate at the ceremony.

Dr. Thomas, a technologist, inventor, and executive at NASA, spoke about the importance of her Morgan education to her later career success, including a patent she received for 3D imaging technology still used by NASA today.

Nearly 600 Southern University and A&M College students in Baton Rouge graduated from the F.G. Clark Activity Center on May 17.

Ron Chandler, an engineering alum and the lead for the education business at Apple, Inc., addressed the Spring Commencement.

Chandler is also an acclaimed cybersecurity expert.

Texas Southern University celebrated the Class of 2024 with a commencement ceremony on May 11.

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett was the commencement speaker.

Central State University also commenced on May 11, with Dr. Donovan Livingston, director of the College Thriving and Teaching Assistance and professor of music at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, as the commencement speaker.

Alumnus Ron Chandler will address nearly 600 grads at our Spring 2024 Commencement on May 17. An SU engineering grad, Chandler is lead for education business at @Apple and an acclaimed cybersecurity expert. For more info, go to https://t.co/qNILfSr37l. #WeAreSouthern #SUgrad24 pic.twitter.com/GPwcUASZS5

— Southern University (@SouthernU_BR) May 9, 2024