<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><item link="https://www.aamu.edu/about/inside-aamu/news/ceo-and-educator-laster-fulfills-promise-to-herself-and-her-students.html" display="true" type="news-list"><title>AAMU’s Oldest Spring Graduate Returns to Finish What She Started 20 Years Ago</title><summary>After building businesses, leading a nonprofit and opening a California high school, April Laster returned to Alabama A&amp;M University to earn the degree she promised herself she would finish.</summary><date>2026-05-10T12:00:00-08:00</date><imageAltText>April Laster smiles wearing her regalia and honors sash in the AAMU Event Center</imageAltText><image>/_images/lasterlredit.jpg</image><name>CEO and Educator Laster Finally Fulfills Promise to Herself and Her Students</name><first>CEO</first><last>and Educator Laster Finally Fulfills Promise to Herself and Her Students</last><url>https://www.aamu.edu/about/inside-aamu/news/ceo-and-educator-laster-fulfills-promise-to-herself-and-her-students.html</url><tags/></item>