These and countless other examples of the transformative power of higher education were showcased at Morgan’s 147th Spring Commencement Exercises, during the School of Graduate Studies ceremony at Murphy Fine Arts Center, on May 16, and during the Undergraduate ceremony today, May 18, at W.A.C. Hughes Memorial Stadium, on Morgan’s campus. More than 800 doctoral, master’s degree and baccalaureate graduates — including 219 Latin Honors graduates — were called to the platform to receive their Morgan diplomas this spring.
Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, the Ghanaian engineer mentioned above, gave the keynote address for the Undergraduate Exercises. Jonah, and Valerie LaVerne Thomas, Ed.D., a Bachelor of Science in Physics graduate of Morgan’s Class of 1964, received honorary doctorates at the ceremony. Dr. Thomas, who grew up in Baltimore’s Cherry Hill neighborhood and overcame gender and racial discrimination to become a high-achieving 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.
One degree was conferred posthumously: a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design to Class of 2024 member Kendall Murray, who passed away in December. Kendall’s mother, Rosalyn Murray, accepted the diploma during a moment of silence in her daughter’s honor.
Blessed to Empower
Sir Jonah, the longest-serving leader of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, spoke powerfully about the strong historical bond between Ghana and America’s HBCUs; about the importance of student activism in solving the multitude of problems facing humanity; about the need for greater acceptance and recognition of women’s contributions to society; about the responsibility of young people to prepare to manage the enormous change being wrought by artificial intelligence (AI); and about the power of education to change the world.
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.
The U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Teqwon Norman, grew up in Baltimore City and in Charles County, Maryland. At Morgan, he learned that his earlier struggles made him an effective mentor for other Computer Science students, which, in turn, helped his own self-esteem and STEM proficiency.
“The hope is that I inspire people. Because that’s kind of what happened to me,” Norman said. “I meet somebody; they inspire me. I want to be just like them, or I want to follow that path.”
(PHOTO) Tushina Yameny, daughter of Samuel Sawyer, the high-achieving octogenarian mentioned earlier, earned her Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Health and Human Sciences with a 4.0 grade-point average this spring. Sawyer earned his Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Organizational Policy, Governance and Administration at Morgan in Spring 2023.)
The Spring Class of 2024 also embodies Morgan’s 157-year tradition of students’ service to the broader community. Bachelor of Science in Social Work graduates Desiree Lane, from Brooklyn, New York, and Khalia Scott, from Baltimore, joined Class Valedictorian Cordelia Otono, from Parkville, Maryland, 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 of Ethical Considerations in Using AI in Social Work Education and Practice.
The 10 Spring 2024 graduates of Morgan’s ROTC Bear Battalion were recognized for their commissioning as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army, continuing the long Morgan tradition of service in the military.
Three other outstanding members of the Class of 2024 had the opportunity to speak to their peers, during the Salute to the Graduates addresses. Ph.D. in English candidate Jacquetta Ayewoh and Master of Arts in Higher Education candidate Nailah Dawson did the honors at the Graduate School Commencement, and Senior Class President Crai-Symone Watson, a Bachelor of Science in Social Work graduate, delivered the remarks at the Undergraduate Exercises. Ayewoh celebrated African American women’s recent gains in doctoral degree attainment and the fact that many of them had achieved their academic success “out the mud.”
“According to Quora, to get it ‘out the mud’ means ‘to achieve success or wealth through hard work, perseverance and overcoming difficult circumstances,’” Ayewoh said. “…What will we pass on to our brothers and sisters coming after us? What can we teach them? What can we show them? We can show them that success is perpetual. It’s ongoing.”
Vice President Harris’ message aimed to motivate and encourage the latest cohort of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the U.S.
“As a proud HBCU graduate, I know firsthand the value of attending an institution like yours,” said Harris, who is an alum of Howard University. “You leave here having been taught that you can do and be anything and that you have a duty to be excellent, to work to uplift the condition of all people and to fight to protect our most fundamental rights and freedoms…. Remember there is no obstacle you cannot overcome, there is no barrier you cannot break, and there is no limit to your capacity for greatness.”
President Wilson’s closing remarks echoed Harris’ theme.
