News Release: PGCPS Kicks Off 2026 Graduation Season With Landmark Bowie State Partnership

May 14, 2026
For Immediate Release

CONTACT:
Office of Communications
301-952-6001
communications@pgcps.org

UPPER MARLBORO, MD — Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) 2026 graduation ceremonies begin Friday, May 15, following a May 1 season kickoff marked by district-wide “Decision Day” celebrations and the announcement of a landmark direct-admissions partnership with Bowie State University.

The new partnership with Bowie State University (BSU) establishes a “fast-track” direct-admissions program for eligible PGCPS seniors. By removing traditional barriers such as application fees, essays, and recommendation letters, the initiative creates a seamless pathway to higher education. Seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA are eligible for the program, which includes coordinated support for FAFSA completion.

“This partnership with Bowie State University represents a monumental homecoming for our students' dreams,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph. “We are ensuring the excellence cultivated in our hallways becomes the leadership that drives our county forward.”

As part of the launch, Bowie State has already awarded more than 600 scholarships to PGCPS seniors for the fall 2026 semester. Totaling more than $1.6 million, the scholarship funding was made possible in part by historic donations from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

“The fast-track admissions program creates a clear and supportive pathway to a four-year degree,” said Dr. Aminta H. Breaux, president of Bowie State University. “We are strengthening the talent pipeline that fuels our local workforce and advancing Bowie State's role as an anchor institution.”

Go inside 2026 College and Career Decision Day!

Formal graduation ceremonies begin Friday, May 15 with the Academy of Health Sciences at Prince George's Community College and Largo High School. 

Ahead of the celebrations, Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph reflected on the many paths to success represented by the Class of 2026.

“Graduation season reminds us of a powerful truth: excellence comes in many forms,” said Dr. Joseph. “Whether our graduates choose enrollment in a university, employment in a high-demand career, enlistment in service to our nation, or entrepreneurship to build something of their own, they represent the strength of the village that helped them rise.”

The Class of 2026 has demonstrated exceptional achievement:

• Academy of Health Sciences at Prince George's Community College: For the first time in school history, three seniors — Nyonna Nash, Elizabeth Osunjimi, and Arianna Ukonu — tied for valedictorian.
• International High School at Langley Park: Valedictorian Khatira Rustami, a refugee from Afghanistan and the first in her family to graduate high school, accepted a full scholarship to George Washington University after also gaining admission to Stanford.
• Crossland High School: O’Marie Barnes, a senior and Student Member of the State Board of Education, received a full scholarship to Harvard University.
• Frederick Douglass High School: Valedictorian Kennedy Mackall earned three full-ride offers, including the Banneker/Key Scholarship to the University of Maryland and the Presidential Scholarship to Coppin State University.
• Bowie High School: Class President Tristan Imanene will attend Delaware State University with over $220,000 in scholarships to study for a professional degree while joining the Army ROTC.
• International High School at Largo: Nearly one-third of the senior class earned the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy, contributing to a collective 4,000 service learning hours.

Take a look at our annual event honoring the Class of 2026 Valedictorians and Salutatorians!

All 2026 ceremonies will be livestreamed via the PGCPS Class of 2026 portal, which also features graduation schedules, news, and student highlights.  

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