According to Tuskegee University, 10 members of the Class of 2026 achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average across every single semester of their undergraduate careers — one of the rarest academic accomplishments in higher education. The graduates are Joi Kayla Axem, Kerri Danielle Barnes, Nilajah Nyota Buchanan, Yasmin Aleksandria Davis, Alaynah Eldridge, Darren Raymond Hall, Keevion Hardamon, Charniece Elliana Jones, Brooklyn Monae Macklin, and Leah D. Saunders. · Alaynah Eldridge balanced a double major in English language arts education and English literature while keeping her 4.0 intact — and said studying abroad in Berlin made her feel like her ancestors’ wildest dream. Pre-med major Joi Kayla Axem paired her perfect GPA with leadership experience as president of both the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students and the Career Center Ambassadors. Nearly 55 percent of the entire Class of 2026 graduated cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude — and 40 percent walked directly into full-time careers.




















