The Global Sustainability Scholar program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, provided our Coastal Ocean Assessment for Sustainability and Transformation (COAST Card) team the opportunity to work with some extraordinary students. Lawren Caldwell spent last summer with us in Annapolis along with Pheng Lor, Nick An and Anna Calderón. Last summer, Lawren was a rising Junior at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, but she was such a diligent student that she actually finished her undergraduate program early and graduated on 13 May 2023. I was invited to her graduation in Greensboro, NC and since I was nearby in Charlottesville, VA for the Chesapeake Bay Program Biennial Meeting, I was able to attend.

The North Carolina A&T graduation was a splendid event held in the Greensboro Coliseum. The first thing I noticed was that there was a large section of the stands occupied by people in silver and gold robes. I learned that A&T invites the 50th reunion graduates (gold robes) and 25th reunion graduates (silver robes) to attend the graduation. It was amazing how many alumni attended!

The graduation speaker was the television and movie actor Morris Chestnut. He gave one of the most engaging graduation speeches I have experienced. I loved the way he talked about how talent “gets you in the door” but character is what “allows you to stay”. He emphasized character and discipline in his remarks, punctuated by “Aggie Pride” with audience participation. He was quite impressive.

Following the graduation ceremony, Lawren and her vast extended family gathered outside the Coliseum for some entertaining performances by fraternities and sororities. Lawren was the lead singer/dancer for her sorority and she received multiple hugs from family members who were very touched by her accomplishments (both academically and socially).

This summer, we are hosting five new Global Sustainability Scholars, and Anna Calderón is returning. Based on our experience from last summer, Vanessa Vargas-Nguyen and I are very excited about the prospect of having these bright young people to work with again.