Several historically Black colleges and universities have reported a record number of degrees conferred at this year’s commencement exercises. Here are some examples:
Delaware State University awarded 656 degrees at this spring’s commencement. This broke the previous record of 646 degrees granted in 2009. There were 496 bachelor’s degree recipients, 21 of whom graduated summa cum laude with grade point averages above 3.75. There were a record 145 master’s degree recipients, besting the 143 master’s degree awardees in 2008. Fifteen doctorates were also awarded at this year’s commencement.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore granted 548 degrees, the largest number in the school’s 125-year history. The university awarded 49 master’s degrees and 21 doctorates.
Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, conferred degrees on 381 students. Graduates came from 17 different states and six foreign countries.
Alcorn State University in Mississippi issued 753 degrees at its spring commencement ceremony, the most in the HBCU’s 141-year history. The number of degrees earned was up 17 percent from a year ago. The youngest graduate was 2o and the oldest was 69. Graduates are from 15 states and six foreign nations.
Congratulations to these four HBCU’s on a job well done!
As a 1964 graduate of Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, I know the value that you added in launching my professional career as a public school teacher in Columbus, Ohio; an assistant professor of education at Howard University; industrial social psychologist at Gulf Oil, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; coordinator of the Career Development Center at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo; human resource development specialist, Blue Cross-Blue Shield, in Towson, Maryland; senior human resource development sonsultant (Principal) at HRD Consulting Services in Mount Washington, Maryland.
We need you to continue doing what only you can do well! We need you to continue doing what only you can do WELL! My career is a representation of how my HBCU experienced prepared and inspired me to greatness!
As we always say “I’m so glad I went to ASU….” Alcorn State University leads again folks in so many ways with 756 graduates, HBCU of the Year, and other honors. Just a week ago Alcorn State alum Donald Driver of the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl champs a few years ago won Dancing With The Stars and earlier this week the 141-year-old institution made school and SWAC history by hiring Vicksburg native James Hopson as head football coach as its first non-Black coach.