05/04/2026
Message from the President
Kent State University Black Alumni Chapter
To the Graduating Class of 2026,
Greetings HOMY’s—today, you step into legacy. What you have achieved is not incidental; it is the product of discipline, endurance, and a refusal to yield under pressure. As President of the Kent State University Black Alumni Chapter, I affirm that we are proud of you—not only for crossing the stage, but for the intellectual and cultural weight you now carry forward. You are no longer simply students; you are stewards of a lineage that demands vision, responsibility, and continued excellence.
Your degree is both credential and charge. It signals readiness, but also obligation—to build, to mentor, and to reinvest. We look forward to your active engagement with the Black Alumni Chapter, not as passive members, but as architects of the next generation. The pipeline does not sustain itself; it requires your voice, your resources, and your leadership to remain alive and transformative.
As you enter your final week, remain disciplined—finish with clarity, precision, and intent. To those who follow closely behind you, future alumni in motion, your work matters just as deeply. Stay focused, stay committed, and keep your eye on the prize; momentum is built in these final moments of effort and belief.
We also take this moment to honor Mwatabu S. Okantah, whose retirement marks the close of a profound chapter of scholarship and leadership. His contributions are not to be passively remembered but actively engaged—read his work, study his thought, and circulate his ideas. This is the standard for all of us as alumni: to remain intellectually rigorous, globally aware, and committed to meaningful dialogue across communities and nations.
Let us be clear—education is not liberation unless it is applied. As Bob Marley declared, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.” That is not metaphor; it is directive. Think independently. Build collectively. Move with purpose. Africa unite—not as rhetoric, but as a framework for global Black solidarity, economic cooperation, and cultural alignment.
Class of 2026, we salute your work, your sacrifice, and your becoming. Now step forward with intention—your legacy is not behind you; it is what you choose to build next.
With pride and expectation,
Georgio Sabino III
President, Kent State University Black Alumni Chapter
04/06/2026
03/27/2026
03/24/2026
03/15/2026
03/10/2026
03/07/2026