ANNUAL DONNING OF THE KENTE CEREMONY HONORS PENN STATE DICKINSON LAW’S CLASS OF 2025 BLSA MEMBERS

May 2025 — The Penn State Dickinson Law Carlisle and University Park chapters of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) recently held their annual Donning of the Kente ceremonies, which celebrated the Class of 2025 and their many accomplishments.

The event, co-sponsored by BLSA and the Office of Student Services, highlighted the students’ achievements during their three years at the Law School and celebrated what is to come in the future in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd of family and friends of the graduating students as well as Penn State Dickinson Law faculty, staff, and other community members.

The Donning of the Kente is a tradition celebrated at law schools, colleges, and high schools nationwide. The West African kente cloth draped around each graduate’s neck symbolizes African American heritage. The ceremony applauds the students’ many triumphs while acknowledging their heritage and the challenges they have overcome as students of African descent. Each student enjoys a moment in the spotlight when they don the colorful cloth. Both ceremonies featured distinguished speakers and an ebullient atmosphere that reflected the joyous nature of the occasion.

University Park Donning of the Kente

University Park’s Donning of the Kente took place on April 25 at the Katz Auditorium. Dr. Wende Ferguson, former associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion and assistant dean for student services, delivered the welcome address.

That was followed by a graduate tribute. Then, the Honorable Royce L. Morris, Judge on the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, served as the event’s guest speaker, providing a message of hope and excitement for the years ahead of the soon-to-be graduates.

Alice Adu Gyamfi ’20, an associate at DLA Piper, delivered the keynote address. She drew on her years in University Park and experience gained since graduation to help put the students’ journeys in perspective. The ceremony wrapped up with the donning of the stoles.

The event featured a lovely reception afterward, which included a Penn State Dickinson Law-branded photo backdrop where BLSA members and their friends and family could take photos following the ceremony. “BLSA’s Donning of the Kente Ceremony is such a special event that celebrates Black excellence in a professional space where Black people had previously been excluded,” said Katie Miller ’26, one of the ceremony’s organizers. “This year’s ceremony allowed us to continue to honor Black students and the allies who support the Black community in our journey through law school while we eat, laugh, and cheer each other on.”

The 2025 graduates honored were:

  • Ama Yarboi
  • Eboni Barbour
  • Damilola Bayo Sebiotimo
  • Sascha Fernandez
  • Lonzie Helms
  • Gurtej Grewal
  • Tyler Thomas
  • Muhammad Ali Ilahi
  • Amina Jaleel
  • Jillian Kerr
  • Oluwafunmi Lawal
  • Staci Melissa Minott
  • Temidoyin Olusa
  • Diana Sanchez Valenzuela
  • Daniel Eiwanlan

View photos from the University Park Donning of the Kente Ceremony


Carlisle Donning of the Kente

The Carlisle Donning of the Kente Ceremony honors the late Paul E. Waters ’59. Waters became the first attorney of color in Dauphin County to become a law firm partner at Shumaker, Placey, Smeltz and Waters, and the first African American to serve as counsel to the Pennsylvania State Senate Judiciary Committee. Waters was founded and edited the U.S. and Pennsylvania Judicial Reporters, both monthly periodicals of caselaw.

The May 9 event opened with a rousing rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the Black national anthem, sung by the choir from Bible Way Church.

Keynote speaker Judge Timika Lane, the second African American woman elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, encouraged graduates to use their education to fight injustice and honor their ancestors. “You are here today because you know how important your voice is to ensure that justice is served fairly and equally. We all must step up and accept that charge,” said Lane.

BLSA also bestowed its third annual Faculty Excellence Award, given this year to Associate Professor of Law Sarah J. Williams. Romario Ricketts ’25, who served as BLS president as a 2L, served as the student speaker. As his family waved a Jamaican flag, he introduced his 90-year-old grandmother, who boarded a plane for the first time to attend the ceremony and the next day’s commencement.

The 2025 graduates honored were:

  • Ama Oduma Annan (LL.M.)
  • Noel D. Ansah
  • Ruth Atomate
  • Mariama Barry
  • Sally Abadoo Brew (LL.M.)
  • Jamesha Caldwell
  • Camille Darius
  • Alejandra Edwards
  • Alexis Faulkner
  • Donique Fagan
  • Elsie Fuhrman
  • Susan Gathoni (LL.M.)
  • Terell Gilpin
  • Jamelia Graham (J.D., Doctor of Public Health)
  • Madison Jackson
  • Allan Nyakaana (LL.M.)
  • Eric Ofori
  • Krystle Oshon
  • Romario R. Ricketts
  • Kergina Singleton

View photos from the Carlisle Donning of the Kente Ceremony