During two ceremonies on a sun-splashed day on Saturday, May 15, 82 Clark Atlanta University student-athletes received their diplomas during the University's Commencement Convocations on the lawn of Harkness Hall in the center of campus.



The Class of 2020, who weren't able to receive their diplomas in person last Spring because of the Covid-19 pandemic quarantine period, were awarded their diplomas early Saturday morning.   Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams delivered the early morning commencement address while former South Carolina legislator and CNN commentator Bakari Sellers gave the afternoon address to the Class of 2021.

Forty-eight Panther and Lady Panther athletes were in the Class of 2020 while 34 were among the members of the Class of 2021.

One of those is track and field/cross country athlete Adoris Gibbs, a dual major in Mass Media Arts and History who was one of six co-valedicatorians in the Class of 2021.  She is the second student-athlete in the past five years to be named a valedictorian.  The other was football player Austin Cassillas in 2016.
                                          (Adoris Gibbs, third from the right)

Also among the graduates was TaDarol Bates II, also known as DJ Crizis, who was the CAU Athletic Department's official DJ during basketball games and other athletic events. 

"In the last two years, CAU Athletics experienced the graduation of 80-plus current and former student-athletes," said Dr. J Lin Dawson, Director of Athletics at Clark Atlanta University.  "This is significant in relation to our student-athlete population of 226.  I am so proud of the hard work, focus, and attention to detail displayed by our student-athletes.  There are so many campus partners who teamed to with our coaches to make graduation a reality.  Thank you to one and all."


The student-athletes who graduated are:
 
CLASS OF 2020
 
Baseball
Garrett Alexander, Business
Ayrton Gijsbertha, Accounting
Jordan Johnson, Business
Cedeon Langguth, Master's Business Administration
 
Men's Basketball
Colin Bell, History
Ian Roach, Business
Shannon Smith, Business
Romaine Thomas, Business
 
Men's Cross Country
Aaron Crawford, Mass Media Arts
D'Andre Graham, Fashion
Justin Williams, Computer Science
 
Football
Joshua Banks, EDES
Darius Blackmon, Business
Paul Coleman, Mass Media Arts
Andarius Hawkins, Business
Breante Glover, Criminal Justice
Drakar Jerry, Accounting
Nathan Lang, English
Kenneth Morgan, Mathematics
Christopher Ricks, Business
Johnathan Sanders, Business
Johnny Sharp, Business
Kevin Williams, Sociology
Justin Wade, English
 
Women's Basketball
Jalisa Jones, Psychology
Briana McGee, Business
Reyana Miller, Criminal Justice
Nailah-Mawusi Mitchell, Criminal Justice
Jazmin Smith, Psychology
LaJoyous Boose, Mass Media Arts
 
Softball
Tatianna Kelly, Criminal Justice
Laterria Jones, EDES
Kayla Montague, Mass Media Arts
Lakimia Terrell, EDES
Caitlyn Williams, Criminal Justice
Cailla Williams, Art
 
Tennis
Vanessa Eusebio, Business
Akilah Parker, Psychology
Keyvonia Moultrie, Biology
 
Volleyball
Ashley Elmore, Accounting
Taylor Prude, Mass Media Arts
Brittany Warren-Dancy, Accounting
 
Cheerleaders
Monique Johnson, Fashion
Amina Lee, CHE
Lourdes Rodriguez, Criminal Justice
Nyari Weatherly, EDES
Kellie Whitfield, Biology
Kyra Wilson, Psychology
 
CLASS OF 2021
 
Baseball
Ceontae Brandon, Criminal Justice
Victor Brown, Business
Joshua Oliver, Computer Science
Jamari Stewart, Psychology
 
Basketball
Calvin White, Business
 
Football
Aaron Brown, Business
Anthony Brown, Social Work
Joseph Culpepper, Business
Mikyle Dees, Criminal Justice
Caleeb Roberson, Mass Media Arts
Brendan Summons, Business
Jeramie Tate, Computer Science
Maxwell Williams, Physics
Makel Young, Business
 
Women's Basketball
Courtney Hall, Fashion Merchandising
Lakashia Hill, Criminal Justice
Naomi Holloway, Business Management
Kierra King, Economics
I'nayah Moore, Masters in Criminal Justice Administration
 
Softball
Elana Edusei, Mathematics
Chase Gray-Still,  Biology
Zaire Hammond, Computer Information System
Kehaulani Low, Criminal Justice
Skylar Smith, Biology
 
Tennis
Nicola Ramdyhan, Accounting
 
Track and Field
Adoris Gibbs, Mass Media Arts 4.0 (one of six co-valedictorians)
Dazya Mitchell, Mass Media Arts
Arianna Myrie, Biology
Tatyanna Myrie, Psychology
Erianna Rogers, Business
Krystal Bobo, Masters in Social Work
 
Cheerleading
Taylor Ashford, Art
Nia Beamon, Psychology
Ajiana Dailey, Criminal Justice