Bowie State University celebrated a historic milestone on May 22 as Maryland’s oldest HBCU graduated the largest class in school history.
A total of 887 students crossed the stage during Spring 2026 Commencement, including 696 undergraduate students, 160 master’s degree recipients, and 31 doctoral graduates.
But for many graduates and social media viewers, one of the most memorable moments came when keynote speaker Dr. Michael Eric Dyson turned the commencement stage into a hip-hop history lesson.
Dyson uses hip-hop to deliver message of excellence
The renowned scholar, author, and social commentator surprised graduates by weaving together lyrics from some of hip-hop’s most iconic artists while encouraging students to pursue greatness…