graduates

Manami Nojo, 31, a former member of Nogizaka46 and wife of kabuki actor Nakamura Hashinosuke, 30, has announced she is pregnant with their first child. The couple, who registered their marriage in March, shared a photo of Nojo cradling her belly with the message 'from now on, there will be three of us.' Japanese media have widely covered the announcement, with congratulations pouring in from fellow Nogizaka46 graduates.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is highlighting its environmental engineering program, which trains students to tackle water quality, waste management and infrastructure problems. The program aims to equip graduates with practical skills for addressing growing environmental and public works challenges in the region and beyond.

The University of Texas at San Antonio is developing a higher education success model aimed at students who have experienced foster care, a group that statistically faces steep barriers to college completion. The initiative focuses on building structured support to help these students enroll, persist and graduate. Higher education supports for foster youth are a growing focus for universities seeking to close attainment gaps.

A University of Central Florida graduate now working as a NASA engineer is helping build America's first Moon base, the university says. The story highlights the engineer's path from UCF to a leading role in lunar infrastructure, tying into ongoing NASA Artemis plans to establish a lasting human presence on the Moon.

President Droupadi Murmu attended the first convocation ceremony of AIIMS Bilaspur in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. The event marked a milestone for the young institute as it honoured its inaugural batch of graduating students. The President's presence drew attention to the government's push to expand AIIMS-quality medical education in smaller cities across India, with the ceremony widely shared by the Rashtrapati Bhavan's official accounts.

Japan's women's football team won gold at the Asian Games in Nagoya, beating North Korea in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw. It is Japan's third consecutive Asian Games title and fourth overall, a record for the tournament. Ueno, a graduate of Kamimura Gakuen High School, scored in the match, and Japanese media are widely covering the victory celebration.

A young MBA graduate in Pune has started a business delivering clean, washed and pre-cut vegetables directly to customers' homes. The venture is being highlighted as an example of an unusual, practical startup idea by a woman entrepreneur, and is drawing significant interest and discussion online, particularly among Marathi-speaking audiences.

William & Mary is highlighting its operations research program, which trains students to apply mathematical modeling, optimization and data analysis to practical problems in fields such as logistics, healthcare and public policy. The university says the program equips graduates with analytical skills that employers increasingly seek, positioning students to tackle complex organizational and societal challenges after graduation.

Graduate theatre alumni from Villanova University are presenting work at this year's Philadelphia Fringe Festival, with the university highlighting several of its former students appearing in productions across the city. The school celebrated the alumni as an example of the programme's reach in the Philadelphia theatre scene. The festival, an annual showcase of experimental and independent performance, runs through the fall.

Rochester Institute of Technology has announced the launch of a new master's degree program in biological sciences. The announcement was made by the university itself, which is based in Rochester, New York. Details about enrollment, curriculum and start dates have not yet been widely reported, and there is little information available beyond the announcement itself.

Oklahoma State University has selected 12 Spears School of Business students as Seniors of Significance, an honor recognizing graduating seniors for academic achievement, campus involvement and community service. The recognition highlights the business school's strong showing among this year's honorees and celebrates the students' leadership and contributions to the university community.

Maura Brophy, a 2008 graduate of Elon University, has been honored by the Washington Business Journal as one of its 'Women Who Mean Business' award recipients. The recognition highlights her professional achievements in the Washington, DC business community. Elon University announced the honor, celebrating an alumna receiving a prominent regional business distinction.

Cal State LA alumni gathered at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles for an event centered on music and community, reconnecting with fellow graduates through shared performances and conversations. The university's newsroom highlighted the gathering as a celebration of alumni ties and the role of music in bringing people together.

Two US Army dietitians from the same family have been selected for the Army-Baylor graduate program in nutrition, marking a rare milestone across two generations of service. The selection places both on the path to advanced dietetic training within the Army medical system, and their story is being highlighted by the Army as an example of family tradition and professional achievement in military healthcare.

The University of Lynchburg has announced plans to launch online Master of Science in Counseling programs, expanding its graduate offerings to students beyond its Virginia campus. The move reflects the broader trend of universities delivering counseling and mental health training online to meet rising demand for qualified counselors.

A number of recent Penn State graduates have been appearing on reality television shows, drawing attention from the university community. The student newspaper has profiled these alumni, highlighting how former Nittany Lions are finding fame on unscripted programs. The coverage is sparking conversation among students and fans who enjoy spotting familiar faces from their school on national screens.

Long Island University's Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment has been named to Billboard's Top Music Business Schools list for the third consecutive year. The school, founded in partnership with Jay-Z's Roc Nation, trains students for careers across music, sports and entertainment. The repeated recognition underscores its growing standing among leading programs preparing graduates for the music industry.

Los Angeles Unified School District students are beginning coursework in personal finance ahead of California's new statewide graduation requirement in the subject. The district is positioning itself as an early adopter of the mandate, which will require high schoolers to study topics like budgeting, saving and credit. The move highlights how schools are preparing to implement the state's financial literacy standards.

Faculty members and graduate students from UCLA's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have received awards at the annual retreat of UCLA's Molecular Biology Institute. The department announced the recognitions, which highlight interdisciplinary work bridging chemistry and biology. The awards celebrate research excellence among both senior faculty and early-career graduate researchers at the university.

The University of Central Florida is spotlighting Alex Bair, a 2016 theatre graduate, highlighting the behind-the-scenes systems work that supports stage productions. The feature emphasizes how a theatre degree can lead to technical and operational roles in the industry, showcasing an alumnus whose contributions happen offstage rather than in the spotlight itself.

Dr. Hayder Ali, a 2016 history graduate of the University of Houston, credits his history studies with shaping his approach to medicine. The university's feature on his path from humanities to medical practice is drawing attention to how diverse academic backgrounds can inform patient care and clinical thinking.

Purdue University's Master of Business and Technology (MBT) cohort is being highlighted for charting a clear route to job-hunting success. The university spotlights how the program's students navigate career searches, suggesting structured support and cohort-based preparation are helping graduates land roles. The story presents the program as a model for connecting graduate business education with employment outcomes.

Penn State sophomore Sean Thomas is pursuing a music career while keeping up with his studies, telling Onward State that doing both is 'that's the dream'. The feature highlights how the student manages coursework alongside songwriting and performing, a juggling act familiar to many young artists on campus trying to break into the industry before graduation.

Thomas College in Waterville, Maine has received a $3 million federal grant to expand its artificial intelligence education programs. The funding will support new AI coursework and training opportunities for students. The announcement drew local attention as colleges across the United States race to build AI-focused curricula to meet growing demand for graduates with AI skills.