The World Needs

THE BEST YOU

Sara Morales had two top priorities when she first began her college search: a well-regarded education program to fulfill her lifelong goal of becoming a teacher, and an opportunity to play both lacrosse and soccer. NDMU checked both of those boxes, and Morales will walk across the stage for a second time during the 2024 Commencement Ceremony at the Baltimore Convention Center after completing the School of Education’s five-year bachelor’s and master’s degree program.

Lavorette Preston ’00, M’03, D'25 describes her college journey as “an emotional rollercoaster ride unlike any other found in an amusement park that ended up being the most rewarding ride of my lifetime.” That ride began years ago in NDMU’s Weekend College program, where she balanced a full-time job with her coursework. A human resources professional for more than two decades, she has spent much of her career hiring and mentoring young workers. It’s this experience that fueled her doctoral research in youth workforce readiness.

What started with an AP Psychology class in high school became a lifelong calling for Rebecca Becraft '25. At Notre Dame of Maryland University, she built a foundation for empathy and understanding. Now Rebecca is ready to make an impact in mental health care and inspire the next generation.

For close to three years, Amelia King worked a 4:30 to 9:30 a.m. shift at Amazon before heading to NDMU for her classes. She also mixed in a second job selling insurance for State Farm on the side. All in all, King worked six days a week for a majority of her college career, using her one “off day” to catch up on coursework and her personal life. Her perseverance, however, paid off in the end, as she already has a full-time job lined up at an accounting firm downtown where she interned this semester.

Abdurrahmon Talabi dealt with a variety of challenges during his four years as a student in NDMU’s School of Pharmacy, including multiple hospitalizations caused by Hemoglobin SC disease (HgbSC), a form of sickle cell disease. Through strong relationships built with both his professors and fellow students, though, he was able to overcome those obstacles and match for a first-year residency at the prestigious Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia after graduation.

Growing up in Nigeria, John Jegede, Pharm.D.'25 always knew he wanted to be a doctor. After the heartbreaking loss of his sister who was studying pharmacy, John found a calling to carry her legacy forward. Even through the many challenges John faced as an international student, he met it all with unwavering faith. “God has been faithful through turbulent seasons,” he said. Now, as he graduates, John sets his sights on a future in transplant pharmacy.

For Jennifer Connelly, adding a master’s degree while continuing to work full time as a clinical educator at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital initially felt like a daunting task. As she progressed, however, through NDMU's Leadership in Nursing Education program, Connelly realized that it was not just moving her career forward, but the University’s emphasis on caring science was also helping her strengthen her love for the profession.

Mackenzie Lookingland will be graduating early from NDMU, needing only three years to complete the undergraduate portion of a program which will allow her to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in elementary education. Despite the shortened timeframe, Lookingland has filled her schedule with more activities than most students could manage in a typical four-year experience, serving as vice president of NDMU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, president of Gators Teach, and a Resident Advisor in Doyle Hall. In recognition of all her efforts on campus, she was the recipient of the University’s Legacy Award in February.