DSU honors service, sacrifice, and scholarship at 2026 Pass and Review Ceremony
Service, Sacrifice, and Scholarship Honored at DSU’s 2026 Pass and Review Ceremony for Military-Affiliated Graduating Seniors
Delaware State University honored its military-affiliated graduating seniors on the evening of May 1, 2026, during the University’s fourth annual Pass and Review Ceremony, a signature event recognizing students who have balanced the demands of military service, family life, professional obligations, and academic achievement.
Photos from the event can be found here
Co-sponsored by the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management, the Office of Veteran Affairs, and the DSU @ Dover AFB, the ceremony celebrated the perseverance, discipline, and determination that define DSU’s military-affiliated student community.
Held in the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center, the ballroom was dressed in DSU blue with elegant red, white, and blue floral centerpieces adorning each table. Families, university leadership, faculty, staff, military representatives, and community supporters gathered to celebrate graduates whose educational journeys often unfolded alongside deployments, military schedules, career transitions, and service commitments.
Guests arrived to the warm sounds of live piano music performed by Mr. Carlos Holmes, Director of News Services and University Historian, whose playing created an elegant and welcoming atmosphere for the evening.
The National Anthem was performed by DSU student Mariana Lipkins, whose moving rendition filled the ballroom with pride, reflection, and grace.
Greetings from University Leadership
The formal program featured greetings and remarks from university leadership and distinguished guests across the DSU community. Dr. Fareed Griffith, Associate Provost, delivered greetings on behalf of the Office of the Provost, reaffirming the University’s commitment to military-affiliated students and their academic success. Dr. Kareem McLemore, Vice President of Strategic Enrollment Management, reflected on the importance of ensuring military-affiliated students feel both supported and seen throughout their educational journey at DSU.
In a gracious act of representation, Dr. Travis Sudler, Director of Enrollment Academic Services and Compliance, delivered remarks on behalf of his mother, Dr. Wilma Mishoe, Delaware State University’s 11th President and the first woman to serve in that role, who was unable to attend.
Following dinner, Dr. Sudler returned to the podium to recognize DSU’s graduating Academic Scholars, including recipients of the Inspire and Presidential Scholarships whose academic achievements have distinguished them throughout their collegiate careers.
Honoring Service and Scholarship
The pinnacle of the evening was the presentation of Military Graduation Cords, a symbol of honor each recipient will wear at commencement, representing both academic achievement and enduring commitment to service. Major General James A. Benson, Adjutant General of the Delaware National Guard, presided over the cording ceremony in full Army dress uniform, personally presenting military graduation cords to each graduate as their name was called. The moment was formal, dignified, and deeply personal for everyone in the room.
Dover Air Force Base was represented by Mrs. Tonya Washington, Education and Training Section Chief, whose attendance underscored the strength of DSU’s ongoing partnership with the 436th Airlift Wing. The relationship between Delaware State University and Dover Air Force Base continues to serve as a model for higher education institutions and military installations can work together in support of servicemembers and military-connected students pursuing degrees.
Among the graduates recognized was student service member Specialist Anitra Fields, who has served seven years in the Army National Guard while pursuing her degree at Delaware State University. Wearing her military uniform during the ceremony, Fields represented the dual commitment to service and scholarship embodied by many of DSU’s military-affiliated graduates.
The ceremony recognized military-affiliated graduates representing disciplines across the University, including nursing, criminal justice, public health, psychology, biological sciences, social work, agriculture, law studies, liberal studies, studio art, and public administration. Graduates shared future aspirations ranging from medical school and graduate study to military commissions, healthcare careers, nonprofit leadership, active-duty service, and public service professions.
“Our students are leaders long before they cross the commencement stage,” said Devon Wilson, Director of Veteran Affairs. “The Pass and Review Ceremony creates space to celebrate not only where they are graduating from, but everything they carried to get there.”
Although not all graduating seniors were able to attend in person, the ceremony honored the broader community of military-affiliated graduates completing their DSU journey this academic year.
A Community of Support
The evening also reflected the collective support surrounding DSU’s military-affiliated students. Representation from departments and offices across the University included Student Accounts, Admissions, the Office of Records and Registration, Enrollment Management, Veteran Affairs, and the eHBCU initiative, among others. University representatives in attendance included Dr. Mangum, Registrar, and Ms. Terry Jeffries, Assistant Vice President and Executive Director of eHBCU, along with faculty and staff from across the institution who came together in support of the graduates and the significance of the event.
Closing Remarks Rooted in Purpose
Master Sergeant Varlensia T. Relaford, Development Advisor for the 436th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base, served as Master of Ceremonies, guiding the evening with warmth, humor, professionalism, and heartfelt reflection. In what she shared would be her final DSU Pass and Review Ceremony before retirement, she offered encouraging words to graduates about perseverance, leadership, and service beyond the uniform.
During her farewell remarks, Relaford reflected on the impact military-affiliated students had on her throughout her years of service.
“To our students: you reminded me why this work matters,” she shared. “Every time I watched one of you navigate the system, balance the mission, finish the semester. You reminded me what service really looks like.”
The ceremony concluded with closing remarks and the benediction delivered by Lolita Treadwell, Director of DSU @ Dover AFB. Drawing from the wisdom of her late mother, Lillian E. Waters, Treadwell shared her mother’s signature phrase, said to her throughout her childhood:
“If you’re not here for business, you have no business here.”
Turning to the graduates, she smiled and added:
“And tonight, I’m happy to say…you all came here for business.”
Treadwell encouraged graduates to remember the version of themselves that persevered through difficult seasons, adapted to change, and finished what they started.
“There will come moments in your life,” she stated, “when the structure changes, the path shifts, and nobody tells you what comes next. When that happens, remember this version of yourself, the one who showed up, the one who endured, and the one who finished.”
Her benediction closed the evening with prayers for discernment, courage, clarity, and safe travels as graduates prepared for commencement and the next chapter of their journey.
Coordinated Through Collaboration
The 2026 Pass and Review Ceremony was coordinated through the collaborative efforts of DSU’s Military/Veterans Team:
Devon Wilson, Director, Office of Veteran Affairs
Lolita Treadwell, Director, DSU @ Dover AFB
Amy Kellen, Military and Transfer Academic Advisor, Office of Student Success
Student volunteers, led by student veteran Julian Banks, assisted throughout the evening with professionalism and hospitality. Together, their work, alongside university partners, continues to strengthen DSU’s commitment to military-affiliated students and their success both inside and beyond the classroom.
The Pass and Review Ceremony remains one of Delaware State University’s most meaningful military-affiliated traditions, honoring graduates who have demonstrated the ability to serve, lead, persevere, and succeed simultaneously.
Delaware State University 2026 Military-Affiliated Graduating Seniors
Jose Esparra — Public Health
Harmony Mallory — Biological Sciences
Samantha Palmer — History
Ashlee Jobin — Agriculture
Justin Gause — Social Work
Xyaire Woods — Liberal Studies
Alaysia Hendricks — Social Work
Sariaya Culley — Public Administration
Khalia Williams — Nursing
Fatima Jalloh — Public Health
Jonathan Taylor — Social Work
Niyah Isaac — Law Studies
Anitra Fields — Criminal Justice
Malachi Reaves — Psychology
Michelle Coleman — Pre-Veterinary Science
Quran Hernandez — Studio Art
Mattilee Harrell-Johnson — Nursing
Janiya Hill-Legere — Nursing intensive care nursing
JaBria Lassiter — Social Work
Jhane Bridges — Social Work
Juliana Cooksey — Criminal Justice
Isaiah Brooks — Biological Sciences
Chad Sebok — Liberal Studies
For more information about Delaware State University’s military-affiliated student programs and services, contact the Office of Veteran Affairs or the DSU @ Dover AFB within the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management.
Article and Photos by Lolita Treadwell