658 graduates cross the stage in a celebration of purpose, progress, and possibilities
In a jubilant crescendo of hope and history, Hampton University celebrated its 155th Commencement Ceremony on May 11, sending forth 658 graduates whose resilience, intellect, and passion mirror the very spirit of this proud institution. Beneath a brilliant spring sky, the crowd rose time and again—moved by the moment, the milestones, and a message that will echo far beyond the hallowed grounds of campus.
Presided over by President Darrell K. Williams, the ceremony marked not just the end of a chapter, but the bold beginning of a new era, defined by record-breaking academic success, trailblazing innovation, and unwavering purpose.
A Record of Excellence Written in Cap and Gown
In a historic first, Hampton University awarded 43 doctoral degrees—the highest number in its 157-year history—signaling its growing strength as a research powerhouse and a reaffirmation of its R2 Carnegie classification. The achievement underscores Hampton’s strategic commitment to advancing knowledge and elevating its national academic stature.
Also making history: the first graduating class of Hampton’s fully online, one-year Master of Business Administration program. Among them was Hampton alumna and University Trustee Rashida Jones, former president of MSNBC, whose presence powerfully affirmed the program’s excellence, accessibility, and relevance for today’s working professionals. The program exemplifies Hampton’s vision for graduate education—fast, flexible, and future-forward.
Another history-making moment came as Hampton University’s newly established School of Religion celebrated its first graduating class, a proud cohort of scholars who answered a higher calling to lead, serve, and uplift. These pioneering graduates emerge as ministers, theologians, and thought leaders equipped to navigate the moral and spiritual complexities of today’s world. Their journey reflects Hampton’s enduring commitment to faith, ethics, and intellectual rigor—core values woven into the very fabric of the university since its founding.
With degrees rooted in both scholarship and service, this inaugural class carries forward a sacred tradition, ready to build bridges across difference, champion social justice, and lead communities with compassion and conviction. Their presence at Commencement was more than symbolic—it was a spiritual milestone and a powerful reminder that Hampton continues to shape leaders of character and conscience for generations to come.
A Valedictory Call to Purpose
The Class of 2025 was led by valedictorian Shreya Reddy Annareddy Venkata Sai, a biology pre-med major from Chantilly, Virginia, who graduated summa cum laude. With grace and humility, she reminded her classmates that “service to others is the highest form of success,” calling on them to lead with empathy, courage, and conviction.
From Prison to Power: A Keynote That Stirred the Soul
The keynote address from The Honorable Don L. Scott, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, was nothing short of transformational. The first Black Speaker in the House’s 400-year history, Scott shared a deeply personal journey—from incarceration to influence—with raw honesty and resounding hope.
“While at LSU Law, I made a mistake. In 1994, I was sentenced to 10 years. I thought my life was over,” he said. But redemption was just beginning. In the years since, Scott rebuilt his life, launching a law practice that has secured more than $100 million in settlements and achieving a full presidential pardon from Joe Biden in January 2024.
His powerful refrain: “You can stand firm because you stand on the shoulders of those who came before you. Now, others will stand on yours.”
With his family beaming from the crowd, Scott’s message rang clear—wherever you begin, greatness is within reach.
Planting Seeds of Opportunity
To thunderous applause, Speaker Scott pledged a $100,000 gift to establish the Dr. Mellanda Colson Scott Endowed Scholarship. “This is a seed,” he said, “for students like me—those who are brilliant but one emergency away from leaving school.”
His gift – in honor of his wife, a graduate of the class of 1993, will support students facing financial adversity, reinforcing Hampton’s commitment to access, equity, and excellence amid a national climate of shrinking educational resources.
“HBCUs aren’t going anywhere,” Scott declared. “We are here. We are strong. And we are standing tall.”
Honoring Legacy and Leadership
In recognition of their transformative leadership and dedication to higher education, Speaker Scott and retiring Board Chairman Wes Coleman were each awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters. Their honors represent not only individual excellence but the collective progress of a community committed to justice, opportunity, and empowerment.
As tassels turned and a sea of cheers rose like a wave through the Convocation Center, Hampton University’s 155th Commencement reverberated with a message more vital than ever:
No challenge is insurmountable. No dream too distant.
It is a message of perseverance through adversity, of dreams realized through discipline, and of a future shaped by bold, unapologetic purpose. It was not just the culmination of years of study, but a powerful affirmation that Hampton graduates are not only prepared to meet the moment—they are destined to define it.
As the Hampton class of 2025 steps boldly into a world that needs their light, they are armed with knowledge, character, and a legacy of excellence behind them. From record doctoral degrees to redemptive gifts and revolutionary ideas, this class is poised to lead, to serve, and to soar.
