N.C. A&T Spring 2026 Graduates Forge Route to Now, Next and Beyond

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 9, 2026) - Following North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University's three spring 2026 commencement ceremonies, the number of Aggie alumni has risen to approximately 80,000 graduates in the university's storied 135-year history.

While total graduation numbers for 2025-26 are not yet final, well more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students earned their diplomas this academic year at North Carolina A&T, a record total for the university.

Its newest alumni have helped blaze the trail to what is "now, next and beyond" for A&T, said Chancellor James R. Martin II, referring to the high-profile framework for the university's strategic plan.

"This university, this amazing university of North Carolina A&T, has been proving its value for more than 135 years, providing opportunity, access and rigorous academic programs to students from North Carolina, the broader nation and countries around the world," said Martin, who was formally installed on Founders Day, March 9.

"Today we celebrate that momentum, and we celebrate you. There's nobody like A&T students. There's nobody that can out-compete, out-innovate, out-think, out-lead A&T students."

The James Weldon Johnson Fellowship Gospel and University choirs delivered stirring performances of the Black national anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," and the alma mater, "Dear A&T," with several graduating students performing in their caps, gowns and sashes for each of the three ceremonies.

Board of Trustees Chair Gina Loften '90, who spoke at each ceremony, said an A&T degree represents far more than the completion of coursework.

"It is a reflection of your discipline, your creativity, your determination and the promise that you carry forward. You have earned this moment and you should take great pride in all that you have achieved," she said.

Senior Class President and Cheatham-White Scholar Jarrod Mason said during two baccalaureate ceremonies Saturday, May 9, in First Horizon Coliseum where about 2,000 students received their degrees:

"Now, looking out, I don't just see caps and gowns. I see future leaders, innovators, creators - individuals ready to make an impact on this world. Each tassel turned today represents perseverance. Every challenge we face shapes who we are today. And on this Mother's Day weekend, we know we could not have made it without the support of our family and friends in the room."

Queen Latifah's Inspiring Message

As she considered what to say in her commencement address, Latifah said she thought of friends who, when discussing success, kept using the word "delusional."

"You have to be delusional beyond your wildest dreams, beyond your faith, beyond your belief," she said. "And it just made me think back to my own life.

Ultimately, Latifah became the first hip-hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006. She earned seven Grammy Award nominations, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1994.

"I cannot tell you that your next step is going to be less scary. I think everyone here, judging by what you see in your world, will face a tremendous amount of adversity," she said. "That's nothing new. You're built for this. You got this."

"Be delusional enough to call yourself something that the world hasn't called you yet. Be brave enough to walk down that road that no one else can see but you."

Graduate Ceremony Excellence

On Friday night, the university held the commencement ceremony for nearly 350 students who received graduate degrees. More than 2,000 A&T students are master's and doctoral candidates this year, comprising the largest ever enrollment for The Graduate College, said Martin.

Dr. Nia Danielle Banks '95, M.D., Ph.D., FACS, a board-certified plastic surgeon, served as keynote speaker. She received her B.S. in chemical engineering from A&T and became the first African American woman to complete Johns Hopkins' plastic surgery training program.

Banks congratulated students for completing their master's and doctoral degrees, noting the inaugural Doctor of Nursing Practice in Transformative Nursing Leadership cohort of 15 students made history Friday as the program's first class to complete the degree at A&T.

Banks challenged graduates to not just open the doors of opportunity for others, but "to blow those doors wide open." She advised them to collect the currency of experiences - "passport stamps, not possessions" - and know what is theirs to carry.

Record-Breaking Achievement

Martin credits students and alumni with A&T's evolution into an exponential university aligned with the rapid pace of technological change, global shifts in demographics and economic environments and the evolution of higher education itself.

"We could not have reached these achievements and distinctions of excellence without your hard work and the commitment and the perseverance that all of you have shown," said Martin.

North Carolina A&T State University is the nation's largest historically Black university, as well one of the top 25 "Most Innovative" universities in America (U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2024). The university is a land-grant, doctoral research university and a constituent member of the University of North Carolina System, established in 1891 and located in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Find video links and slideshows for each ceremony at www.ncat.edu/registrar/commencement.