By LaTunya Evans, Communications Specialist
Twenty-three years after withdrawing from 91첥, Jemeka Summerall crossed the graduation stage Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025 — a milestone made even more meaningful as her daughter, Jelijah Summerall, graduated alongside her.
A Hollandale, Mississippi, native, Jemeka Summerall began her academic journey at MVSU in 2000 after graduating from Simmons High School. Raised in a family deeply rooted in the university, she said attending MVSU was never a question.
“My mom, my sister and even my granddad received their degrees from the Valley, so attending MVSU was a natural choice,” she said. “I wasn’t interested in going anywhere else.”
Intent on continuing her family’s legacy, Jemeka Summerall enrolled at MVSU and joined the university choir under the direction of Dr. Orlando Moss, Sr. In 2002, however, she withdrew from the university because of academic challenges.
Shortly after leaving MVSU, she became pregnant with her daughter. Although her path changed, she said returning to college remained a long-term goal.
After years of balancing motherhood and working as an in-school suspension teacher at T.L. Weston Middle School in Greenville, Mississippi, Jemeka Summerall returned to higher education. In a unique turn, she re-enrolled at MVSU alongside her daughter, pursuing a degree in general studies.
Jelijah Summerall, a 2022 graduate of O’Bannon High School, described herself as shy and reserved while growing up. She said she viewed college as an opportunity to challenge herself personally and academically.
“I was extremely shy and afraid of doing things on my own,” she said. “I knew college would force me to grow socially, emotionally and in real-life skills.”
She began her collegiate career at Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead, earning an associate degree in spring 2024. Encouraged by the support MVSU provided to her family, Jelijah Summerall transferred to the university.
“I chose MVSU because it offered a supportive environment, a community that felt like home and affordable tuition that allowed me to graduate debt-free,” she said.
As Jelijah navigated upper-level coursework, her mother became both a classmate and a source of accountability. Adjusting to the demands of university-level work proved challenging, she said, but persistence paid off.
“The assignments were longer and more time-consuming than anything I had done before,” Jelijah Summerall said. “There were days I woke up at 3 a.m. to finish assignments, but I pushed through.”
One moment underscored the impact of her mother’s encouragement.
“I wanted to skip a midterm because I felt unprepared,” she said. “My mom insisted I go to class, and with encouragement from her and Dr. Elian Dyo, I took the exam and passed.”
For Jemeka Summerall, sharing the college experience with her daughter proved equally motivating.
“Jelijah was my motivation every step of the way,” she said. “We leaned on each other — whether it was learning new technology like Canvas or reminding one another about assignments.”
Their shared journey strengthened their bond and offered each a new perspective.
“This experience allowed me to see my daughter grow into a confident young woman,” Jemeka Summerall said. “She’ll always be my baby, but now I see her standing on her own.”
Jelijah said attending college together allowed her to view her mother beyond the role of parent.
“I saw her as a student chasing her own dream,” she said. “That gave me a deeper level of respect for her.”
91첥 hosted its Fall 2025 Commencement at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex. The commencement address was delivered by Dr. Mary Tyes-Williams, mayor of Itta Bena, Mississippi.