By Jae Newton
GRAMBLING, La. — Nearly 500 graduates at Grambling State University’s Spring 2026 commencement ceremony received a message centered on perseverance.
Serial entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author Fawn Weaver delivered the keynote address, encouraging graduates to stay focused even when life gets difficult.
“What I know for sure is that each and every one of you are walking into a country that is trying to figure out who we will be,” Weaver said. “The worst thing that you can do when you leave here is to believe any of the negativity.”
She pushed students to stay committed to their goals and not let setbacks define them.
“You will not fail because you didn’t work hard enough,” Weaver said. “You will fail only if you lose hope and give up.”
Weaver also told graduates that stepping into new industries or breaking barriers will not come easy.
“If you go into an industry where you break boundaries and go past gatekeepers, expect that it is going to be hard,” she said. “Don’t ever complain. Do the work.”
In an interview following the ceremony, Weaver expanded on her message of perseverance.
“All they have to do is put one foot in front of the other,” she said. “As long as they keep moving forward, they will get to the other side of it.”
She added that struggles are part of the process, not the end of it.
“It is not a clean walk for anybody,” Weaver said. “It is those who stop or retreat who never get to see what is on the other side.”
Weaver also spoke on purpose, saying it is not tied to a job or title.
“I do not believe purpose is what you do,” she said. “I believe purpose is who you are.”
She explained that people may change careers or seasons in life, but purpose remains constant.
“You bring your purpose with you into every space,” Weaver said.
When asked about entrepreneurship, Weaver kept it direct about what it takes to succeed.
“If your life shows you are the quitting kind, don’t try entrepreneurship,” she said. “It is going to be hard. There will be challenges that seem impossible, and you have to be committed to keep going.”
Still, she encouraged flexibility without giving up.
“You can pivot and not quit,” she said. “If something is not working, pivot fast, but keep going.”
Weaver also emphasized the importance of preserving history and telling untold stories.
“It is extraordinarily important for us to be the keepers of those stories,” she said. “Because if we are not careful, they disappear.”
She closed her message with a reminder about hope in uncertain times.
“If we lose hope, we lose everything,” Weaver said. “But if we keep working and keep moving forward, we will get where we need to be.”
Valedictorians
Grambling State University’s Spring 2026 valedictorians all finished with perfect 4.0 GPAs and are already moving into their next steps.
Nyic’Quavayion Willis, a Criminal Justice major from Las Vegas, Nevada, will attend the University of San Diego on a full-ride HBCU Changemaker Fellowship before pursuing law school.
Wymeko Williams, an Accounting major from Mansfield, Texas, will begin his career with Turner Construction in Dallas while continuing toward his CPA.
Annia Shelton, an Elementary Education major from New Orleans, Louisiana, passed all PRAXIS exams on her first attempt and plans to return home to teach.