AAMU 147th Spring Commencement Ceremony 2022
Alabama A&M University honored the Class of 2022 during the Spring 2022 Commencement.
Despite changing the start time from 10 a.m. to noon in hopes of avoiding bad weather, a brief downpour impacted the ceremony (AAMU's new Event Center opens this fall).
More than 600 students and their families began arriving at Louis Crews Stadium at 10 a.m.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin gave the commencement address, praising the student’s strength and reinforcing the importance of HBCUs. “You’ve faced COVID-19 and other obstacles, but you made it. I want you to think of the strength Vivian Malone Jones had when she faced then Alabama Governor George Wallace as she attempted to enroll in the University of Alabama. What is often left out of that story was that she spent her formative days right here on this campus. The strength she showed in the face of all of that hate, was built and molded right here. Class of 2022, that is the stock you come from. The next time anyone asks you, 'Is an HBCU still relevant,' you look them in the face just like I do and say 'damn right.'"
AAMU President Daniel K. Wims and members of the AAMU Board of Trustees presented Woodfin with the Alabama A&M University Presidential Medallion right before a downpour caused the University to pause commencement for about 20 minutes.
The tribute to the Golden Class of 1972, whose members are celebrating their graduation from AAMU 50 years ago, was moved to the Founder’s Day Convocation at 4 p.m. in T.M. Elmore Gymnasium.President Wims resumed the ceremony to ensure each graduate's name was called and they were recognized for their achievements.
President Wims commended the students as he shared highlights of the Class of 2022:
- 627 students earned degrees (152 graduate, 475 undergraduate)
- Almost half have secured jobs
- 14 percent will continue their education
- 12 percent report offers of $70,000 or higher
- The highest job offer is $131,000 and includes a $25,000 signing bonus
- 291 students graduated with honors
- Arielle Fortune has the highest GPA at 4.0
- 171 students are first-generation college graduates
- Nine are second-generation AAMU graduates
- One is a third-generation graduate
- One is a fifth-generation graduate
- Two sets of twins graduated
- Two sisters graduated S
- pouses Jeremiah Twilley and Launiss Michelle Twilley graduated
- The oldest graduate is 66-year-old Gary D. Manning
Despite the weather, it was a celebrated day to recognize this historic milestone.
Congratulations to the AAMU Class of 2022!
