{"id":272608,"date":"2026-05-15T18:55:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T18:55:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/272608\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T18:55:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T18:55:27","slug":"famu-law-honored-class-of-2026-at-annual-hooding-ceremony-in-orlando","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/272608\/","title":{"rendered":"FAMU Law Honored Class of 2026 at Annual Hooding Ceremony in Orlando"},"content":{"rendered":"

ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014\u00a0The Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law honored more than
\n 100 graduates at the 2026 Hooding Ceremony held May 7, at the Dr. Phillips Center
\n for the Performing Arts in Downtown Orlando.<\/p>\n

FAMU leadership, College of Law faculty and staff, alumni, community leaders, family,
\n and friends came together to commemorate the time-honored tradition.<\/p>\n

Sia Baker-Barnes, president of The Florida Bar, delivered the keynote address. In
\n a powerful message, she encouraged graduates to take their seats at the table and
\n stand strong as they face challenges.<\/p>\n

\"PresidentPresident of The Florida Bar, Sia Baker-Barnes (left), FAMU President Marva B. Johnson,
\n Ph.D., and a guest.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of these tables will welcome you with open arms,\u201d said Baker-Barnes. \u201cSome will
\n invite you, but not include you,\u201d said Baker-Barnes. Some will resent you. And some,
\n Class of 2026, will reject you. It will happen to you at tables in courtrooms, in
\n boardrooms, and in spaces where decisions are made. And not if it does, but when it
\n does do not accept it. Do not internalize it. Reject it. Class of 2026, do not allow
\n yourselves to be limited by the limitations in other people\u2019s heads.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baker-Barnes told graduates they are more than enough, and their brilliance, strength,
\n discipline, and innovation \u2014 everything the profession needs, they already possess.<\/p>\n

FAMU President Marva Johnson, J.D., shared poignant perspectives of the College of
\n Law\u2019s legacy \u2013 past, present, and future.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not just proud in the way that any university celebrates its graduates, we\u2019re
\n proud in a way that only those who understand what this school endured and overcame
\n can truly be proud,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cThis College of Law has its own testimony, and
\n you are the latest and finest chapter of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TwoGraduates could not contain their happiness at last week’s hooding ceremony. (Photo
\n special to FAMU)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Johnson also told graduates they stand at a pivotal point in history.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou join a distinguished tradition of advocates and counselors, men and women who
\n were entrusted with upholding the rule of law and safeguarding rights and liberties
\n that define our democracy,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cYou graduate at a consequential moment
\n in time. That is not just a light thing. That is a calling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Juris Doctor graduate Jossie Louis, who served as SBA Hooding and Graduation chair,
\n provided reflections on behalf of the class.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat makes this moment so meaningful is not just that we made it, but how we made
\n it,\u201d said Louis. \u201cWe leaned on friendships that became family. A family that became
\n part of our forever support system. We learned that strength does not always look
\n like having the right answer \u2014 it often looks like continuing to try when things just
\n feel uncertain. To the Class of 2026 \u2014 we did it. And not just that, we are ready.
\n Ready to lead, ready to serve, and ready to become true Rattlers for Justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"DeanInterim Dean Cecil Howard and Amber Newsome, president, SBA. (Photo special to FAMU)<\/p>\n

Also, during the ceremony, Cecil Howard, associate provost and interim dean, recognized
\n juris doctor graduate Kayla Carestia, Valedictorian for the Class of 2026, for her
\n outstanding academic achievements. He also recognized juris doctor graduate Amber
\n Newsome, president, Student Bar Association\u2019s (SBA) 22nd administration for the 2025-2026
\n academic year, for her service and leadership.<\/p>\n

Dean Howard, who also presided over the ceremony, shared a special message for graduates
\n online, prior to the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cFAMU Law graduates of the Class of 2026, I\u2019m so excited for you,\u201d said Dean Howard.
\n \u201cCongratulations\u00a0on all the hard work you\u2019ve put in \u2014 everything you\u2019ve endured over these past three
\n years. But guess what, that only makes you stronger and more resilient. I can\u2019t wait
\n for you to pass the bar exam and become outstanding lawyers in the state of Florida
\n and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CollegeSisterhood was in the building at the College of Law Hooding Ceremony. (Photo special
\n to FAMU)<\/p>\n

The graduates are now part of the more than 2,600 distinguished alumni of the reestablished
\n FAMU College of Law, who represent the legal profession at law firms, corporations,
\n government agencies, non-profit organizations, sports organizations, and other entities.<\/p>\n

\"Family\"Law\"Alpha<\/p>\n

Media Contact<\/p>\n

Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Strategic Communications
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Back to Stories<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014\u00a0The Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law honored more than 100 graduates at the 2026…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":272609,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[139,141,140],"class_list":["post-272608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-orlando","tag-orlando","tag-orlando-headlines","tag-orlando-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=272608"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272608\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/272609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=272608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=272608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=272608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}