Norfolk State University recently held its 112th Commencement Ceremony, which took place on Saturday, May 4.

The keynote speech was delivered by Del. Don Scott (D-88th District), who made history as the first Black House speaker in the Virginia Legislature’s 400-year history.

The ceremony took place at the William “Dick” Price Stadium in front of nearly 600 graduating students.

Speaker Scott graduated from Texas A&M University and then enrolled in the Navy’s Officer Candidate School.

He served as an officer in the United States Navy before earning his law degree from Louisiana State University.

In 2005, he moved to Portsmouth, Virginia, and began working for a workforce development company. Speaker Scott quickly climbed the ladder while helping others see their potential.

Alabama A&M University held its Spring 2024 Commencement Ceremony on May 3rd.

The Graduate Candidates had their ceremony at 9:00 a.m., while the Undergraduate Candidates had theirs at 5:00 p.m. at the AAMU Event Center.

During these ceremonies, the University awarded a total of 570 degrees.

The university conferred 162 graduate degrees, including two doctoral and 16 Thesis candidates.

Of the graduate degree recipients, 84 also received baccalaureate degrees from AAMU.

The undergraduate Class of 2024 included 126 first-generation college graduates.

The class was composed of 53% females and 47% males and boasted 269 honors graduates.

Over 45 percent of the new alumni have already secured employment, 28 percent plan to continue their education, and 5 percent will enter the military. During the undergraduate ceremony, 11 ROTC Cadets were commissioned.

After his commencement address, NFL Hall of Famer and AAMU Alumnus John Stallworth donated over $1.2 million to his alma mater to support student scholarships.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) announced receiving a $237.75 million gift from the Batterson 7th Family Trust and CEO Gregory Gerami to support student success initiatives and athletics.

The donation is nearly double the size of the FAMU Endowment value, which is $121 million, and is one of the most significant single personal donations to a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

The gift reflects Gerami’s desire to make a transformational contribution to benefit FAMU students and student-athletes for future generations.

FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., expressed gratitude and said that the donation would have a far-reaching impact on the academic and athletics programs.

It will greatly enhance their ability to provide scholarships for students and boost them in recruiting top students and retaining top faculty.

Gerami’s vision for the future of farming led to plans for the most prominent African American commercial hydroponic warehouse in West Texas. With a focus on cultivating industrial hemp for various applications, including pediatric cancer therapeutics research, his commitment to sustainable agriculture and community welfare is evident.