Historically black colleges and universities graduated hundreds of students during the commencement season.  Below are highlights from ceremonies at Alabama A&M, Florida A&M, Jackson State, Southern, Tennessee State, Tuskegee, and Virginia State universities.

The Fall Commencement at North Carolina A&T State University took place on Saturday, December 8. An estimated 960 students were awarded degrees across many different disciplines.

In a close second,  Jackson State University’s combined graduate and undergraduate ceremony on Friday, Dec. 7 had 874 graduates. Dr. William B. Bynum, JSU president, engaged the audience in his famous ‘God is good, all the time’ call and response. (Charles A. Smith/University Communications)

Alabama A&M University (AAMU) also held its fall commencement on the same day. Dr. Perry Ward, president of Lawson State Community College, gave the address to AAMU graduates.

At Tennessee State, the first Executive MBA (EMBA) class walked the stage at the fall commencement ceremony on Saturday, December 8. (Photo inset)

More than 600 TSU graduates received degrees at the fall commencement ceremony. They included 22 members of the inaugural class of the TSU Executive MBA program.

At Southern University in Baton Rouge, 500 graduates received degrees and inspiration at the fall commencement. Graduates were bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as commissions to the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy.

The Joint ROTC Commissioning Ceremony at Tuskegee University on Friday, Dec. 14  included ten students receiving military commissions –– three from the Navy ROTC, two from the Air Force ROTC and five from the Army ROTC.

During the sixth December Commencement Exercises of Morgan State University, 400-plus bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree candidates heard a direct appeal for civic activism from Elizabeth Warren, senior U.S. senator from Massachusetts, who delivered the Commencement address.

Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings served as fall commencement speaker at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). All three of Mayor Deming’s sons are FAMU alumni.

It was an even bigger family occasion at Virginia State University (VSU).

President Makola M. Abdullah (photo above) shook the hands of more than 300 graduates, including his daughter, the youngest member of the VSU Class of 2018 to receive a college degree.