Feature Story: May 2024 Newsletter

Class of 2024 Includes Nearly 3,000 Students

Largest graduating class in University history

Visually transformed into The Yard, Capital One Arena hosted 2,839 undergraduate, graduate and professional students who took the long walk across the arena floor to graduate from Howard University. Many in the historic Class of 2024 started their college journey during the Covid-19 pandemic but triumphed to be celebrated during the 156th Commencement Convocation before a crowd of 20,000 University faculty, staff, students, family and friends. 

Thasunda Brown Duckett, president and CEO of TIAA and Howard’s commencement oratrix, spoke about courage, resilience and moving forward. “Courage is woven into the fabric of Howard,” Duckett said.

She encouraged graduates to remember all that they had endured during Covid but to use the experience to move forward. “The windshield is a lot wider than the rearview mirror... Always look forward. The windshield, the destination is far more important than the rearview,” she said.

Duckett and four other distinguished guests—Epsy Campbell Barr, Victor J. Glover, Jr., Fred Gray, Sr. and J.W. Marriott, Jr.—were awarded honorary degrees. For more highlights of the 156th Commencement, visit here.