Senior Spotlight: Through grief and grit, WSSU student earns her degree
In 2021, during her sophomore year at Winston-Salem State University, Mikayla Courtney experienced the unthinkable – her mother, Paula Henson, passed away unexpectedly at Christmas.
She returned for the spring semester, though the transition was difficult. With support from Dr. Rashunda Richardson, an associate professor of psychological sciences, the process was manageable, but grief made it difficult to focus. By spring break, Courtney said, “I just couldn’t open my computer anymore.”
Living with her older brother in Fredericksburg, Virginia, she quietly stopped attending classes. “I was in a terrible place mentally,” she said.
Courtney reenrolled at WSSU in fall 2024, but without a formal withdrawal, her GPA had suffered. Then, in 2025, she faced another devastating loss, her brother, Aeneaus “A.J.” Jameson, passed away unexpectedly.
Despite these setbacks, Courtney will be among the estimated 905 WSSU graduates receiving their degrees May 15 during commencement exercises inside the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The psychology major credits Richardson with helping her persevere despite profound family loss.
“Dr. Richardson did everything in her power to keep me in school and on the right track after I lost my mother,” Courtney said. “She showed me the meaning of Ramily, and I will never forget that.”
Richardson said Courtney embodies perseverance.
“Mikayla faced a significant obstacle … and has put forth a determined effort to obtain her degree,” Richardson said. “I also think of hope when I think of Mikayla. Hebrews 11:1 states, ‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’ I hoped Mikayla would return to WSSU to finish what she started. When she returned, I knew God was truly at work and that He had kept her while she was away. I was determined to help her persist to complete her degree.
“As I think about Mikayla, I’m overwhelmed because I’m so proud of her,” Richardson continued. “I’ve interacted with many students throughout my time at WSSU, and the growth I’ve observed in Mikayla Courtney is truly unmatched. She has worked hard to improve her GPA, sought help when needed and made a concerted effort to build her own Ramily. I’m very proud of her.”
Courtney said Winston-Salem State has empowered her to speak up for herself and take initiative.
“WSSU has shaped my confidence and purpose by surrounding me with a supportive community,” she said. “To me, being part of the Ramily means having a family away from home. It’s more than just attending the same university. It’s a family that pushes me to grow and become the best version of myself.”
She plans to take a gap year before attending graduate school and is debating whether to focus on social work or clinical psychology. She is leaning strongly toward applying to the Joint Master of Social Work Program between North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and UNC Greensboro, which requires students take course and access resources on both campuses.
Courtney hopes to become a licensed therapist and takes WSSU’s motto, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” seriously. She hopes to one day start a nonprofit supporting domestic violence survivors and their families.
“WSSU has prepared me to pursue my career goals by providing a strong foundation in understanding human behavior while also strengthening my critical thinking and communication skills,” Courtney said.
Courtney plans to wear a custom stole with the words, “For My Angels,” honoring her mother, brother, father, an uncle and her maternal grandfather during commencement.
“I was in the ‘real world’ when I dropped out, but now I’ll have my degree,” she said. “I just have to make sure I stay on the right path and do the right thing with it.”
All indications are she will.
