Jaliyah Blue, 2, takes a ride on a slide at the annual Strawberry Street Festival held last Saturday at Clark Springs Elementary School in Randolph. The event typically takes place at William Fox School in The Fan. But the school sustained major damage in a fire in February, and the students were moved earlier this week to Clark Springs. The festival benefits the Fox Elementary PTA and featured carnival games, a raffle, food trucks, music and strawberries.

Downed tree limbs are piled along Main Street behind the Main Library in Downtown after brisk winds and heavy rain pummeled the city May 6. Friday Cheers and other outdoor events were canceled, and some schools closed early after the U.S. Weather Service included Richmond in a tornado watch. No twisters developed, but more than an inch of rain soaked the area during the storm.

Peonies on South Side

Social activist Tamika D. Mallory, who delivered the commencement address, smiles after receiving an honorary degree. She is flanked by Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, left, chairman of the VUU Board of Trustees, and VUU President Hakim J. Lucas.

Anthony Samuels of Trenton, N.J., gets close to the podium to photograph his daughter, VUU valedictorian Brielle Le’Shay Samuels, as she spoke during the ceremony. Tears of pride and joy streamed down his cheeks as he captured the moment.

Dr. Lucille M. Brown, an Armstrong High School graduate, 1950 graduate of VUU, member of the VUU Board of Trustees and former superintendent of Richmond Public Schools, is give a motorized escort by campus police to the commencement exercises at Hovey Stadium.

Members of the graduating class march into the stadium at the start of last Saturday’s 123rd Commencement exercises. It was the first in-person commencement at VUU since 2019, and graduates of the classes of 2020 and 2021 also marched.

Tyonna Parker of Washington, D.C., a chemistry major who also minored in mathematics, takes a quick selfie during the ceremony. VUU President Hakim J. Lucas asked students to pause and take a selfie and tag themselves on social media.

Norfolk State University commencement speaker and actor Keith David, second from right, is all smiles after receiving the Presidential Medallion during the ceremony last Saturday. With him are, from left, NSU Rector and 2000 NSU graduate Devon M. Henry, chief executive officer and president of Team Henry Enterprises, the contracting firm that removed the Confederate statues from Richmond’s Monument Avenue; NSU President Javaune Adams-Gaston and Provost DoVeanna Fulton.

Newly commissioned Army ROTC officers, from left, Desiree Alford, Willie Bright and Monteau Jones smile during Norfolk State University’s commencement last Saturday at Echols Memorial Hall Arena.

Dr. William R. “Bill” Harvey offers words of advice to graduates during his final commencement as Hampton University’s president. He is retiring in June after 44 years at the helm.

Rashida Jones, president of MSNBC and a 2002 graduate of Hampton University, receives the Outstanding 20-Year Alumna Award.

Zahria Brandon, center left, adjusts the academic hood of Taylor Robinson during Hampton University’s commencement last Sunday at the HU Convocation Center.