By LaTunya Evans, Communication Specialist
ITTA BENA, Miss. — With emotion in his voice, Mississippi Valley State University alumnus Darryl Gaines reflected on the life-changing impact of his alma mater during the university’s 2025 commencement ceremony held Saturday morning in the R.W. Harrison Complex.
“Give me a moment because I get emotional every time I think about Valley and the people who have impacted me and my life today,” Gaines said. “I am really blessed to have a family like the one I have at MVSU, and now, you are blessed to share this family, too.”
Gaines, the acting deputy director for the Exploration Architecture Integration and Science Directorate at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, returned to MVSU to deliver the keynote address, urging graduates to cherish their community, embrace resilience, and walk boldly into the future.
“I came to MVSU on a football scholarship and a love for computers, so I decided to major in computer science with a minor in mathematics,” he said. “Little did I know, the people I met here at MVSU would play a pivotal role in my life.”
Gaines credited the Department of Computer Science and Mathematics and the Department of Career Services with preparing him for real-world success. He offered special thanks to Carolyn Gordon, former department chair, whom he called “a mother away from home.”
A proud Delta Devil, Gaines described how his football teammates quickly became his brothers.
“At MVSU, I met a group of men who would become my brothers—the Delta Devil football team,” he recalled. “We sweated together, we bled together, and we lost together. We pushed each other to be better every day.”
“These men, my teammates, remain a part of my life today. The love we share is special, enduring and forever. That is what I wish for you, Class of 2025.”
Gaines encouraged the graduates to hold on to the relationships built during their time at MVSU.
“The people you’ve met here are more than just your friends, teachers, classmates, and peers. They’re your extended family. Hold on to them, cherish them, and as you leave, remain close to them.”
Although their time at MVSU was coming to an end, Gaines reminded graduates that their connections—and the lessons learned—would endure.
“These are the people who will celebrate your victories, lift you up when you stumble, and stand beside you through your greatest challenges,” he said. “Now, you are about to enter a world that is challenging, uncertain and divided, but do not be discouraged or afraid. Stand tall, be courageous and be the change.”
Gaines emphasized the importance of courage, action and leadership, urging graduates to step into the arena of life.
“Credit does not go to the critic—the man or woman who points out how someone stumbles or where they could’ve done better,” he said. “The credit belongs to the person who’s brave enough to step into the arena.”
He affirmed that MVSU had prepared the graduates not only academically, but also personally and professionally.
“To the Class of 2025, your journey began when you started at MVSU,” he said. “MVSU has prepared you to step in the arena. Here you stand today, before us, at the threshold of possibilities.”
“The fact that you are here means that you already possess the strength to persevere, the will to overcome, and the discipline to keep pushing forward. These are the qualities that will serve you well after you’ve left the Delta Devils’ nest.”
Before concluding his address, Gaines offered a lasting piece of advice.
“Be resilient, be diligent, and above all, be kind,” he said. “Be a good human who loves deeply, forgives freely and gives grace even when it’s undeserved. As you continue to live, there will be someone who will have to do the same for you.”
This year’s commencement ceremony also honored 55 Golden Graduates from the Class of 1975, who returned to campus to receive their golden diplomas alongside the Class of 2025.