COLUMBIA, S.C. --- Allen University is proud to celebrate and congratulate the graduating class of 2026. Among the 172 new alumni, 68 individuals were student-athletes for the Yellow Jackets, marking the largest total of student-athletes in a graduating class in university history.
It was also a historic graduating class for athletics as the top two students by grade point average were able to balance their academics while participating in athletics. This year's Valedictorian was Talayah Boxley, of women's basketball, who graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. This year's Salutatorian was Maliyah Spencer, of women's volleyball, who also graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.
"At Allen University strong academics are our top priority, and we congratulate the graduating class of 2026 on their great accomplishment," said Director of Athletics
Stanley Cromartie. "It is never easy balancing academics with athletics, and these student-athletes not only achieved that goal, but instead they excelled both in the classroom and in their competition. We are very proud of each one of them, wish them the best moving forward, and hope they know that Allen will always be home."
The full list of graduating student-athletes includes:
Aisha Patterson, Women's Cross Country, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Cum Laude
Akhwari Smith, Men's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Summa Cum Laude
Ali Cisse, Men's Track & Field, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Alicia Coleman, Women's Soccer, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Cum Laude
Alivia Scott, Women's Track & Field, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management
Amyie Canales, Women's Soccer, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Summa Cum Laude
Anissa Tuitt, Women's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Anthony Waddler, Football, Bachelor of Science in Social Science
Artavon Edmond, Football, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, Cum Laude
Breasia Adams, Women's Track & Field, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Cum Laude
Bryan Bolden, Men's Cross Country, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Cum Laude
Cadence Leaks, Women's Volleyball, Bachelor of Science in Social Science, Magna Cum Laude
Caleb Helm, Men's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Cameron Scott, Football, Master of Business Administration
Daniel Plummer, Football, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management
Darin Turner Jr., Football, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Darryl Shivers Jr., Football, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
DaVanye', Kight, Women's Soccer, Bachelor of Arts in Music, Summa Cum Laude
DeJuan Hughes, Football, Bachelor of Science in Sports Management
DeQuan Griswold, Men's Track & Field, Bachelor of Science in Sports Management
Edmund Whitaker II, Football, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Cum Laude
Isaac Johnson, Football, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, Summa Cum Laude
Jabari Moss, Men's Cross Country, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Jahmeik Scott, Football, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Cum Laude
James Dagin, Football, Bachelor of Science in Biology
Jamoi Seay, Men's Wrestling, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Cum Laude
Janae Greene, Women's Volleyball, Bachelor of Science in Biology
Jani Smith, Women's Volleyball, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Cum Laude
Jaquan Chisholm, Men's Wrestling, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Magna Cum Laude
Jayla Neely, Women's Volleyball, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, Magna Cum Laude
Jeremiah Francis, Men's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Sports Management, Magna Cum Laude
Jhyrique Mangum, Men's Track & Field, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude
JuJu Harrington, Women's Basketball, Master of Business Administration
Juliana Blackman, Women's Soccer, Master of Business Administration
Justin Monroe, Football, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Cum Laude
Kadresha Smith, Women's Basketball, Bachelor of Arts in General Studies
Kaiyah Robinson, Women's Soccer, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Magna Cum Laude
Kaleb Commings, Football, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management
Kayla Pope, Women's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Biology
Kayleb Pierce, Football, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Magna Cum Laude
Ka'mari Towns, Men's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Cum Laude
Kenneth Wilkins, Football, Bachelor of Arts in General Studies
Keturah Walker, Women's Track & Field, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Magna Cum Laude
Keyshuna Fair, Women's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, Magna Cum Laude
Kourtney English, Women's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Cum Laude
Kyla Thomas, Women's Basketball, Master of Sport Management
Kynew Barnwell, Women's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Cum Laude
LaMarco Yates, Football, Master of Science in Sports Management
Maliyah Spencer, Women's Volleyball, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Summa Cum Laude, Salutatorian
Mark Huffman, Men's Basketball, Master of Business Administration
Mike Best, Men's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Miquel Mason, Football, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Summa Cum Laude
Moses Douglass, Football, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, Cum Laude
Mya Johnson, Women's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Cum Laude
Nari Coe, Women's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, Summa Cum Laude
Raevyn Thomas, Softball, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Cum Laude
Reyonce Black, Women's Track & Field, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
Saige Bradley, Women's Volleyball, Master of Sport Management
Sharrod Simmon, Football, Master of Business Administration
Shawn Jones Jr., Men's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Sports Management
Talayah Boxley, Women's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Summa Cum Laude, Valedictorian
Tavis Bridges, Men's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Summa Cum Laude
Terrenice Streetman, Men's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Cum Laude
Timyris Lippett, Football, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management
Tonai Moore, Women's Basketball, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Cum Laude
Torian Riggs, Football, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management
Trevor Bywater, Football, Bachelor of Science in Sport Management, Summa Cum Laude
Zyara Harrison, Women's Volleyball, Bachelor of Science in Social Science, Summa Cum Laude
