Watch: Kasim Reed delivers commencement speech at Howard University

Graduation season is in full effect, and students across the country will be listening to words of encouragement from their professors, fellow students and other influencers. Howard University students will hear from a special guest: former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.

Earlier this month, the HBCU, located in Washington D.C., announced the politician would serve as the commencement speaker for the 2019 ceremony, which takes place Saturday, May 11 at 10 a.m.

Reed, a 1991 graduate of the university, will also receive the Presidential Medal of Achievement.

"His body of work in a life dedicated to public service and commitment to higher education exudes our motto of truth and service," the school's president Wayne Frederick said in the release.

And Reed is thrilled to his return to his alma mater.

"Returning to Howard always feels like coming home to me," Reed said in a news release posted on the university's website. "No source, with the exception of my family and my faith, have played a more important role in any success that I have had in my career than Howard University."

Take a look at the livestream here to catch Reed's speech.

About the Author

Najja Parker

Najja Parker is a video and news correspondent for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Black culture team. She is an engaging on-air talent, who has served as a host for the newsroom’s special projects and events, such as the movie premiere of “The South Got Something To Say,” a documentary chronicling the rise of Atlanta hip-hop.

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