Stillman College Commencement Moves Indoors Due to Weather Concerns

Stillman College is set to award 121 degrees during its 2025 Commencement, scheduled for Saturday, May 10. Originally planned as an outdoor event, the ceremony has been relocated to Birthright Alumni Hall in response to forecasted inclement weather.

Keynote Address

“Google Vice President of Employee Engagement Melonie D. Parker will deliver the keynote address,” said the Stillman College Press Release. “Parker is an award-winning HR leader with a career spanning more than three decades.” She is known for her mantra of "Adding In instead of Fitting In."

Parker focuses on aligning talent strategies with organizational goals, with a strong emphasis on fostering inclusive and dynamic workplace cultures. Prior to her tenure at Google, she served as Vice President of HR and Communications at Sandia National Laboratories and held several leadership roles at Lockheed Martin.

A Hampton University and Villanova University graduate, she remains deeply engaged in academia, serving on the boards of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and Hampton University. Her impactful work in human resources and inclusion has earned her widespread recognition and numerous accolades.

Dr. Yolanda W. Page, the eighth president of Stillman College, and Dr. Mark McCormick, provost and vice president of academic affairs, will preside over the ceremony and the conferring of degrees, as well as present special recognitions and acknowledgements.

Student Speakers

Class of 2025 Highest Honors recipient Amarachi Okafor will deliver Senior Reflections, while her sister, Chinazam Okafor, a Presidential Scholar, will introduce the keynote speaker. Both distinguished student speakers hail from Lagos, Nigeria.

 Class of 2025 Marshals

The graduate with the highest GPA in each academic program will carry its banner.

Carl Morris (Arts/Music)

Paisley Wilson (Biology/Chemistry)

Chinazam Okafor (Business Administration)

Kayla Spencer (History/Criminal Justice)

Deonna Banks (Elementary Education/CEID)

London Wooley (Human Performance/Kinesiology)

Amarchi Okafor (English/Journalism)

Madison Bubel (Math)

Zaria Kennedy (Psychology)

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2025 Commencement Highlights

The Stillman College Choir and Band will perform "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and the Stillman Alma Mater."

The ceremony will feature the presentation of the Golden Reunion Class of 1975 and the induction of the Class of 2025 into the National Alumni Association of Stillman College.

“Rev. Vernon Swift, pastor of Elizabeth Baptist Church, and a 1972 Stillman alumnus, will offer the invocation,” said the press release. “Rev. Joseph Scrivner, Stillman College dean of chapel and pastor of Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church, will give the benediction.”

The Spring 2025 Commencement Details

The Spring 2025 Commencement Details

Information is from the Stillman College Facebook Page

Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM

Birthright Alumni Hall - 3601 Stillman Blvd, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

The ceremony will be live-streamed on the Stillman College YouTube page and the Urban Edge Network app.

Doors will open at 8 a.m. for spectators via the west entry at the glass lobby.

Overflow spaces will be available in Stinson Auditorium and Warner Presentation Room in Wynn Center.

Parking and Entry to Birthright

Graduates will enter campus at the Brown Memorial gate (36th Ave/John Knox Circle).

Faculty and Staff will enter campus at the 18th Street Gate off Fosters Ferry Road.

Guests and Family will enter campus at the Main Gate off Stillman Blvd and 38th Ave/Campus Drive.

Parking will be available in the lots adjacent to Birthright, Rouhlac, Wynn Center, Stillman Stadium and behind Hay Hall.

Stinson & Batchelor parking spaces will be closed for reserved parking.

Doors to Birthright Alumni Hall open at 8 a.m. from the glass lobby doors, the entry closest to the Main Gate.