500 graduates were awarded their degrees during Xavier’s 91st annual commencement May 12 at the University Convocation Center.

Award-winning New York Times investigative journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones delivered the keynote address and was awarded an honorary degree, as was President Emeritus Dr. Norman C. Francis ’52.

Five students with perfect 4.0 grade points averages headed this year’s group of 44 summa cum laude graduates, including: Hannah Mbony, a biology/premed major from Brookeville, Md.; and four pharmacy students – Sarah Bilbe of Kenner, La.; Rania El-Desoky of Muscat, Oman; Thao Pham of New Orleans, La.; and Amanda Stevens of Kenner, La.

Bryan Redmond (St. Katharine Drexel Award) and Kylar Wiltz (Mother Agatha Ryan Award) earned the University’s top honors for service.