In Their Own Words: A&T Grads Share their "Journey to the Degree"

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 5, 2026) – Every graduate has a story. Their stories are filled with perseverance, purpose and pride. Aggie Pride. 

On Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9, nearly 2,000 students will receive graduate and undergraduate degrees during North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University's Spring graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies respectively. 

Each of those graduates have poured over class work, delivered presentations, collaborated on group projects, conducted research, led student organizations, excelled on the field, marched in the band and countless other activities. 

These soon to be graduates have excelled academically, professionally, and personally. They have navigated challenges, seized opportunities and left their mark on the university community.

While there are countless stories to be told, below are just a few of their stories, shared in their own words. Discover more in the days leading up to commencement weekend, on the university’s special commencement website and on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Jaylyn Carter • Amauri Williams • Georzetta Lee • Sania Stanley • Myla Hudson • Jocelyn Lilly / Jillian Lilly

Jaylyn Carter - Nursing

"My journey to becoming a nurse has been anything but easy. At the center of my story is my sister. She had dreams of becoming a nurse, dreams that were taken from her far too soon. In the midst of that loss, I made a quiet promise to myself: I would carry her dream forward…

During my sophomore year of college in 2023, I experienced another life-altering loss my aunt, who was one of my greatest supporters and like a second mother to me.

It was in that season of grief that my passion for oncology nursing was born…I knew then that I wanted to be that source of comfort and care for others. Two years later, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to California as a research scholar, where I conducted research focused on pediatric oncology.

My journey through nursing school has not been perfect. There were moments where I questioned if I would make it…But through it all, my faith in God sustained me.

I am not just graduating as a nursing student I am graduating as a testament to perseverance, faith, and purpose. I carry with me the legacy of my sister and my aunt, and I step into this profession with a heart committed to making a difference. Becoming a nurse is not just my achievement it is theirs too.

Amauri Williams - Supply Chain Management

My time at A&T has been a testimony of personal growth, professional development, perseverance, and academic excellence. God truly placed me amongst a HBCU community that has supported me from my freshman year forward. Dr. Huscroft was the first to welcome me and he challenged me to rise to a level of excellence at the college level. I’m thankful for my mother and grandmother who have taught me so much and encouraged me to keep striving.

I was awarded a full-ride scholarship as a BP HBCU scholar and fellow. I interned at BP in Houston as well as Chicago in Supply Chain Trading & Shipping and research. My research to help BP reach net zero was selected to be presented to key stakeholders in the UK. Additionally, I was selected to represent A&T at the HBCU Dean’s Choice Business Round Table Summit at NYU, and won first place in two supply chain CASE Competitions.

I have spent my time at A&T working with professors on ways to better accommodate students with disabilities, been a mentor and tutor to fellow Aggies, and found my voice in bringing awareness to issues that affect my community. My father passed away at the start of my junior year, and it was a semester filled with my toughest classes. I’ve never experienced such a devastating loss and the grief felt insurmountable; however my village reminded me that I can do hard things and I can finish strong. They also normalized the benefits of counseling when it comes to navigating grief.

I am incredibly proud of the man that I have become in my four years as an Aggie! My post-graduation plans are to return to A&T and obtain my MBA with a concentration in Supply Chain. Thank you to everyone who has poured into me!

Georzetta Lee - Elementary Education

“My path has not been traditional, but every step has shaped me into the person I am today. While pursuing my degree, I was not just a student, I was working, managing real-life responsibilities, and continuing my role as a mother to my three adult children. With two of my children also in college at the same time, I remained a constant source of support for them.

Before returning to education, I spent years working in the corporate world. But over time, I realized it was not where my passion truly lived. After many years, I made the decision to return to education, and once I did, I committed fully. Education became my purpose, not just a career. Today, I am a full-time educator, teaching and supporting students in a Title I school. I work daily with students who need more than just academic instruction. They need encouragement, consistency, and someone who believes in them.

In addition to my work in education, I am also a business owner. I founded Divine Eye Appeal+Travel, LLC, where I provide event planning, coordination, and travel services.

Returning to school after years in another career, while balancing work, family, and personal responsibilities, was not easy; but it was necessary for my purpose.”

Sania Stanley - Business Management

My journey to North Carolina A&T State University was written long before I ever stepped onto campus. As a proud fifth-generation Aggie, I come from a legacy rooted in excellence, resilience, and unwavering pride. My parents, Berdenia Stanley ’87 (undergraduate) and ’89 (graduate) and Thomas Stanley ’88, laid the foundation. My sisters, Tori Stanley ’22 and Briana Stanley ’20, continued that legacy.

I always understood that attending A&T would be more than a choice—it would be a continuation of something far greater than myself. Following in their footsteps has been one of the most meaningful decisions of my life. As I prepare to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Management, I reflect on a journey filled with growth, discipline, and purpose.

I entered the university as a member of the Honors College and have remained committed to academic excellence throughout my time here.

Beyond the classroom, I found purpose in spaces that nurtured both my passion and personal development. Spending two transformative years as a Golden Delight dancer with the Blue and Gold Marching Machine allowed me to express myself through performance while embracing discipline, confidence, and sisterhood. I was also honored to be inducted into the National Council of Negro Women and Alpha Lambda Delta. In addition, I am a Spring 2025 initiate into the Alpha Mu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

At the core of my journey is family. Their guidance, sacrifices, and unwavering belief in me have shaped who I am today. Legacy has always been important in my life—not simply as something to inherit, but as something to uphold and extend. As I cross the stage, I do so with deep gratitude and a clear purpose: to continue building on the foundation that was laid before me and to inspire those who will follow. Being an Aggie is not just a title—it is a lifelong commitment to excellence. And for me, it is a legacy I am proud to carry forward.

Myla Hudson - Biology and Psychology

I came to North Carolina A&T State University from Charlotte, North Carolina with a plan. I had always loved science, and I knew I wanted to become a doctor and go into oncology. But within my first week, everything changed. When I moved in, my grandmother was on hospice. About a week after classes started, she passed away. That moment completely shifted my experience. What was supposed to be a fresh start quickly became one of the hardest transitions of my life.

But something changed going into my second semester. I realized that I had control over my life and my future. Being here was no longer something that was happening to me—it was something I could shape. I decided to take ownership of my journey and to live in a way that honored my grandmother’s legacy. She was a double major, so I decided to become one too. I added psychology as my second major and began focusing on neurobiology. My grandmother passed away from dementia, and I wanted to understand it—not just emotionally, but scientifically. I wanted to know what was happening in her brain, what caused it, and how we could do better for people like her. That decision changed everything. I found my place through research.

Research gave me an outlet for my grief. It gave me purpose. I’ve had the opportunity to conduct research at institutions across the country, including the University of Utah, the University of California, Santa Cruz, Weill Cornell Medical College, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the University of Virginia, and the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering. Each experience pushed me further.

Research showed me that I can have a direct impact on understanding disease mechanisms and improving lives. It reminded me that even in loss, there is still room for purpose.

Beyond academics, I also found my voice through leadership. I served as Vice President of Internal Affairs in the Student Government Association, worked as a senator, and stayed actively involved across campus. I am also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, Alpha Phi Chapter. These spaces allowed me to grow, advocate, and pour back into the same community that helped rebuild me.

Looking back, my journey at A&T wasn’t what I expected—but it became exactly what I needed.

Jocelyn Lilly - Health Services Management | Jillian Lilly - Criminal Justice

On April 27th, 2003, we were born at just 27 and a half weeks gestation at Women’s Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina, weighing only 2 and a half pounds. At only three days old, we both suffered severe hemorrhagic strokes, causing us to be transported to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem and then to Duke Children’s Hospital. We were in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for over two months. Our parents were told that we might never walk or talk, but we received excellent care at Duke Hospital, where many of the nurses and doctors became like family to us, and God was on our side.

From the start, the odds were stacked against us. As we grew, those early challenges took different forms. I developed hydrocephalus, which led to mild cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Jillian developed anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Our childhoods were filled with various therapies, medical treatments, and surgeries, experiences that shaped not only our strength, but our outlook on life. Despite these challenges, we refused to be defined by limitations. Instead, we used them as motivation.

Today, we are both graduating with honors from North Carolina A&T State University, the same institution where our parents met and earned their degrees. Being able to continue that legacy while overcoming the obstacles we faced makes this achievement even more meaningful. Our experiences have directly shaped our futures. 

I [Jocelyn] plan to attend physician assistant school with the goal of working in pediatric neurosurgery, helping children facing the same kinds of medical challenges I once endured. Jillian plans to attend law school and pursue a career in personal injury and civil rights law, where she can advocate for individuals who, like us, have faced adversity and need someone to fight for them. We both aspire to continue our education at Duke, taking this next step together just as we have every step before, in the place that first shaped our journey. Our story is not just about overcoming medical hardship, it is about growth, determination, and using our experiences to give back to others. It is about two sisters who started life in uncertainty but are graduating with purpose. Because our journeys have always been intertwined. To tell one story is to tell the other, we are, and always have been, a package deal.