A&T Graduates First Cohort of Strada Scholars

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 15, 2026) — After joining the Strada Education Foundation’s Historically Black College and University Initiative in 2023, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University reached a major milestone as its inaugural cohort of Strada Scholars graduated during spring 2026 commencement ceremonies.

The initiative’s mission is to invest in high-achieving students and help them develop the leadership, professional and community-focused skills needed to thrive beyond graduation. For Makaylah Smith, Grace Walker and Jacob Thornton, commencement signaled a full-circle moment reflecting the program’s impact.

For Smith of Long Island, New York, an Honors College student who earned a B.S. in kinesiology from the John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences, the journey through the Strada Scholars program illustrates how intentional investment in students can shape confident leaders prepared for careers and graduate studies. She plans to pursue physical therapy professionally, a field that demands technical expertise and strong interpersonal skills. As a Strada Scholar, she found opportunities to improve both.

“I’ve learned so much beyond the classroom,” said Smith. “The biggest takeaways for me are collaboration, communication and connection. Those are transferable skills I’ll use for the rest of my life.”

Beyond supporting scholarships, the partnership provided leadership development, networking and experiential learning opportunities. The program’s structure opened doors early for Smith, Walker, who earned a B.S. in business information technology from the Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics, and Thornton, who earned a B.S. in landscape architecture from the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

During their first year, they designed and led a community service initiative for Aggie Academy working with elementary school students. For Earth Day, the scholars created hands-on activities focused on environmental stewardship, including gardening projects and lessons on recycling and pollution reduction.

“The kids were so engaged,” said Smith. “By the end of the event, they really understood why Earth Day matters. Seeing their excitement made all the planning worth it.”

The scope of work evolved as the program continued. During Smith’s second year as a scholar, she participated in the Transcending Leadership Certificate TLC program, where she was a part of a research-driven learning community that examined recurring socio‑economic issues in Greensboro. The experience required students to collaborate across disciplines, engage with community stakeholders, attend local government meetings and present research‑based solutions, which sharpened her public speaking and critical thinking skills along the way.

“These were real‑world problems,” said Smith said “We weren’t just learning theory, we were learning how to work with people, how to communicate clearly and how to show up prepared.”

Successfully completing the TLC program, offered through the Office of Leadership and Civic Engagement, is an integral part of A&T’s engagement strategy for the Strada Scholars program.

A hallmark of the Strada HBCU Initiative is its emphasis on connecting students from partnering institutions. Through annual leadership summits, Smith, Walker and Thornton engaged with Strada Scholars from HBCUs across the country, exchanging ideas and learning how peers were implementing initiatives on their own campuses.

The summits also offered professional development workshops tailored to students’ academic interests and sessions on time management, wealth building, networking and career preparation. For Smith, sessions focused on health, athletics and kinesiology reinforced the importance of building a professional presence and maintaining strong networks, which are lessons she later applied when securing a competitive internship with Amazon last summer.

As a graduate, Smith said her Strada Scholars experience has helped her see herself as more than a student, but as a future professional and community leader.

“The success of our first cohort of Strada Scholars reflects what can happen when we intentionally invest in co-curricular experiences for students,” said Rosalind Dale, Ed.D., vice provost for Engagement and Outreach and A&T’s Strada Scholars program director. “These scholars have excelled academically while fully engaging in opportunities that prepare them for leadership, career success, and long-term impact. I am extremely proud of what they have accomplished since their first year at A&T.”