More than 200 网曝吃瓜 graduates earned degrees Friday, May 7 during the Spring 2021 Commencement Convocation in Alumni Stadium. The convocation celebrated the fall 2020 and spring 2021 classes.
Teachers, farmers and future healthcare leaders now go forth from the University, ready for the next level of success.
Lamman Rucker, who received the Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree from Kentucky State, delivered the commencement address. Rucker has starred in big and small screen favorites such as Tyler Perry鈥檚 鈥淲hy Did I Get Married鈥� films, 鈥淢eet the Browns鈥� and the iconic 鈥淭he Temptations鈥� miniseries, among many other productions.
鈥淚n your next phase, you will go from all that to, 鈥榃ho are you, when did you get here? Welcome rookie, young puppy,鈥欌�� Rucker said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very humbling. Be OK with that. Do you have the grind to climb back up from the bottom? The discipline it takes to stay the course?鈥�
Rucker advised the graduates to be themselves, not an impostor.
鈥淚 want you to understand, when you have an identity that belongs to you, your formal training and identity and the organic person, that鈥檚 what is going to be the most significant part of you,鈥� Rucker said. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l have to follow rules, respect other people鈥檚 opinions, obey the law, but be you. That鈥檚 where real joy and real success truly awaits.鈥�
Annelise Mack was the class valedictorian. Mack took 18 to 21 hours each semester in order to finish her criminal justice degree in three years.
鈥淚t鈥檚 safe to say that each and every one of us has faced challenges to get here today. College is full of hardships, like being away from family and friends; financial struggles; academic difficulties; and for some, the pressures of being a first-generation student,鈥� Mack said.
President Brown announced other interesting facts about the class of 2021: the class is comprised of six military veterans; the youngest graduate is 20 and the oldest graduate 鈥� Albert Harris 鈥� is 65 years old.
A posthumous degree was awarded to the families of Cameron Sherman Kates, Joshua Raheem Tolson and Zarrick Takius-Armean Smith, students who passed away before finishing their degrees.
Musical guest and national recording artist Kelly Price brought the house down with musical selections throughout commencement convocation.
President Brown honored and acknowledged the golden graduates of the class of 1971, celebrating their 50th anniversary.
Several surprises were in order for the graduates, as Junebug, creator of the viral social media Junebug challenge, made an appearance, as well as Fast Lyfe Yungstaz (F.L.Y.), who performed, 鈥淪wag Surfin.鈥欌��