Contact: Crystal Drake, Office of Strategic Communications
In a remarkable demonstration of sustained academic excellence, 10 members of Tuskegee University’s Class of 2026 achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average across all four years—a rare feat that underscores how Tuskegee’s Renaissance Era is demanding unflinching academic rigor while wrapping students in a deeply supportive network of faculty and staff determined to help them succeed.
The distinguished graduates are: Joi Kayla Axem, Kerri Danielle Barnes, Nilajah Nyota Buchanan, Yasmin Aleksandria Davis, Alaynah Eldridge, Darren Raymond Hall, Keevion Hardamon, Charniece Elliana Jones, Brooklyn Monae Macklin, and Leah D. Saunders.
“Each of these students is a shining example of what the Tuskegee University experience can be,” said Dr. Mark A. Brown, president and CEO. “Tuskegee is for all—but, as W.E.B. Du Bois affirmed, we must cultivate the ‘Talented Tenth,’ for in their excellence lies leadership and service to the nation. I’m proud of all of our graduates and these exceptionally talented 10 lift even higher the promise, opportunity, and expectations of Mother Tuskegee.”
Tuskegee’s Renaissance Era lives in the art of the possible.
“In our Renaissance Era, student achievement continues to demonstrate that possibilities are limitless and that a Tuskegee University education produces high-achieving scholars prepared to compete by any measure as they enter a global workforce,” said Dr. Brown.
On May 9, these scholars joined more than 300 undergraduates who crossed the commencement stage. More than 70 percent of those graduates were already fully employed, off to graduate school, or reporting to military bases as commissioned officers ready to serve the nation.
“Beyond excelling in the classroom, our students are expected to complete degree-related internships, participate in practicums, directed research or student teaching, and to study abroad,” said Dr. Thierno Thiam, Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs. “These opportunities are invaluable building blocks in developing the critical thinking, effective communication and teamwork acumen, and real-world workplace savvy that today’s global workforce demands.”
‘My ancestor’s wildest dream’
Alaynah Eldridge, a Mobile, Alabama native, balanced a double major in English Language Arts Education and English Literature while maintaining her perfect academic record.
Eldridge chose Tuskegee in search of both academic challenge and cultural connection, particularly during a time shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic and national conversations on racial injustice.
“Reckoning with George Floyd’s murder, the COVID-19 pandemic and some other personal things led me to seek an HBCU experience,” she said. When a family friend gave her a tour, she was sure Tuskegee was the right choice.
“This is my home. It feels like family, I feel supported already,” she recalls thinking to herself at the time.
Eldridge urges those soon entering college to give themselves grace, noting that her transition to college life required growth and adjustment.
“I was making so many adult decisions for the first time, managing social pressures, building community. I had to reprioritize self-care,” she shared.
Eldridge also gained global perspective through a study abroad experience in Berlin, Germany, where she explored history through a decolonial lens.
Reflecting on a moment when she was on the plane to Berlin, she said, “I cried thinking, ‘I am my ancestors’ wildest dream.’”
Now, she is considering career opportunities as a secondary English teacher in Alabama – as the state continues to grapple with teacher shortages particularly in rural areas – with possible future studies in education leadership or curriculum design. She also aspires to one day teach at Tuskegee.
Working toward a career in cardiology
Nilajah Buchanan, a biology major from Huntsville, Alabama, arrived at Tuskegee seeking to advance her dreams of a career in medicine. After touring the campus in high school, she knew immediately it was the right place.
“When I toured Tuskegee, they were already talking about professional school during orientation in the chapel,” she said remembering the thoughts in her mind at the time –I want to be a doctor and I need to be somewhere where I feel like I'm going to be prepared.
“As soon as we got outside, I said ‘mom and dad, I need to come here’”. While earning a perfect GPA was not her original goal, academic excellence became a natural outcome of her dedication. She spent long hours studying—sometimes up to eight hours a day in the library during her freshman year—and immersed herself in opportunities like a NASA internship.
Buchanan is now headed to Emory University for graduate school. Her long-term goal is to pursue cardiology, particularly cardiothoracic surgery, driven by a desire to address disparities in cardiovascular health among underserved communities.
She credits much of her success to mentors within Tuskegee’s biology and chemistry departments.
“They were always there to support us,” she said. “It really was like tough love in a way because they always expected the best from us. Them expecting so much of me, it really did help me believe in myself more and build my confidence.”
First generation graduate with a ‘passion for math’
For Keevion Hardamon, a Dothan, Alabama native, his journey to academic perfection was guided by both curiosity and determination.
A double major in electrical and computer engineering, Hardamon said his passion for math—and his imagination—fed his tenacity to take on both rigorous majors. “I always told myself, if I could have a superpower, it would be electricity,” he said with a smile. Hardamon attended Troy University and Wallace Community College before truly finding his footing at Tuskegee. The intimate student-teacher ratio and the academic excellence at Tuskegee were exactly what he needed to soar.
“One thing I can say about Tuskegee, even though it's all about business, it's about academics, there is always such a personal feel to it,” he said.
As a first-generation college graduate, his achievement carries added significance.
“I had to find my stride,” he said. “I didn’t have someone at home who had already gone through the college experience. I was the first one to do it. And not only that, I did it in engineering.”
Hardamon has already secured a position with NextEra Energy, a subsidiary of Florida Power & Light, where he will work as a protection and control (P&C) engineer. He interned with NextEra for two summers while at Tuskegee.
“Tuskegee really helped me become that light for my family,” he said adding that “Tuskegee helped me become a man. It really shaped me. It changed my mindset. It changed everything about the way I move in life.”
Together, these ten graduates embodies Tuskegee University's “head, hand and heart” founding vision—one that blends academic excellence, professional preparation, and community-centered purpose.
“Tuskegee is a small but mighty school,” Eldridge said. “They always had my best interest at the center. If I ever needed anything, someone on that campus made sure I got it. They matured me into a career-ready young woman who is ready for the world.”
© 2026 Tuskegee University
