Commencement a ‘full-circle’ milestone

By Kelvin Childs

With the festive Commencement complete for 2026, the new graduates can look on their Howard University career as the foundation of a consequential future.  

“Commencement, to me, is more than just a ceremony; it’s a meaningful milestone. It represents all the hard work, growth and everything it took to get here,” said Sallyma Kargbo (B.S.  ’26).

“To me, Commencement is just the culmination of my four years here. I mean, it’s a great time and it’s a celebratory marker for the next chapter of my life,” said fellow graduate Neranti Gary (B.S. ’26).

Kargbo and Gary represent the 3,200 graduates who had degrees conferred at Howard’s 158th Commencement, on Saturday, May 9. The University’s 14 schools and colleges honored graduates during the week.

Growing up in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Kargbo attended Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale, whose motto is “the Mecca of Excellence.” “So, from going to the Mecca to The Mecca again, it was like a full-circle moment. I wanted to continue to surround myself by that type of excellence,” she said. “Being surrounded by driven, talented people who share similar experiences has been really motivating and has pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect.”

Kargbo majored in health sciences and minored in biology. Active in student life, she joined The Genesis Models in her junior year and attended African Student’s Association meetings. 

The University experience, Kargbo said, shaped her well.

“For me, the best part was the sense of community that I built here, which ultimately instilled confidence in me. Going into Howard, even though I wasn’t far from home, I didn't really know anybody that was going here yet. So, I kind of walked in alone. But soon after, I was met by different people who were just welcoming. And then I built that community around me from freshman year to now,” Kargbo said.

Gary, an Oakland, California, native, said leaving the West Coast “bubble” for Howard’s diverse yet comforting environment proved beneficial. He attended a “predominantly Black and Afrocentric middle school,” and his principal and mentor often told him, “If you’re going to school, go to an HBCU. If you’re going to go to an HBCU, hey, you should go to Howard.” 

At the College of Engineering and Architecture, the computer science major found camaraderie with students from numerous cultures within the United States and across the African diaspora. 

“I was able to breathe a little more and spread my wings. And I think that’s a very important thing because for one, being at an HBCU, you’re around people that look like you but at the same time, people that are so different from you. And I guess that the people that look like you, the importance of someone looking like you, makes it a little more comfortable for you to be yourself,” Gary said.

Alumni giving augments that community building.  “Alumni support is important because it directly impacts students. Donations help provide scholarships, improve resources and create opportunities for students to succeed. Giving back is a way to make sure future students can have access to the same, if not better, experiences,” Kargbo said. 

Gary mentioned that giving supports much-needed infrastructure improvements to dormitories and classroom buildings, like the upcoming Wonder Plaza project on the Main Campus’ west side. He added, “More money for more professors would be extremely helpful.” He noted that a lot of his professors in the past few years have been Howard alums. “So that’s another way to give back,” although direct funding “is just as helpful,” Gary said. 

Post-graduation, Kargbo intends to take a gap year and then pursue a master’s degree in public health at Howard. Gary will work with Freedom Schools, an educational organization that improves literacy for minority students through mentorship and teaching. He also plans to travel abroad “to get a global expansion in terms of my worldview” and develop fluency in Spanish.

Annual giving drives successful outcomes for Howard’s talented students on the path from freshman to graduate. Please donate, here: Ways to Give | Annual Giving