Final Chapter of a Sisterhood Legacy: Last of Four Sisters Graduate from PVAMU

All four Holland sisters have attended Prairie View A&M University, and as Charity R. Holland ‘23 graduates this May with her younger sister Mageste’, their unique legacy is a part of campus.

“PV has become more than just a school to us — it’s a part of our family’s story,” said Charity Holland.

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Holland is the second youngest of four girls  — all of whom are now proud PVAMU alumnae. Their mother attended Texas Southern University (TSU), so each sister faced the decision of whether to follow their mother to TSU or choose PVAMU. In the end, scholarships, campus culture, and the welcoming warmth at PVAMU drew each of the four here.

Sixteen years later, the final two Holland sisters cross the stage debt-free. That support — both financial and beyond— has been invaluable, Holland said.

As a student, Holland found her voice through service and leadership, especially with the Disability Services Student Board (DSSB), where she progressed from marketing manager to vice president, and eventually, president.

“As someone who wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD or medicated until I was 16, joining DSSB helped me realize that it’s okay to ask for support,” she said. “An ‘A’ is still an ‘A,’ no matter how long it takes to get there.”

Holland, who also has a 2023 BA in digital media arts from PVAMU, earns her MA in community development this spring. Her studies, paired with hands-on experience, have fueled her passion for historic preservation and community engagement.

“With my master’s, I want to bring historic preservation into digital spaces and reintroduce communities to their shared histories,” she said. “My goal is to help people reconnect — not just with the past, but with each other.”

She has completed two internships: as an undergraduate researcher at the Design View Media Center and as a graduate assistant at the Texas Institute for the Preservation of History and Culture (TIPHC), where she helped launch creative projects, develop proposals, and shape programming from the ground up.

She also created a mixed-media historical exhibit honoring Black military members, inspired by her father’s service. The project blends digital art, traditional crafts, and painting, a reflection of Holland’s creative versatility and commitment to honoring overlooked stories.

“I want to provide a space where all art forms—from culinary to digital—can be celebrated, helping artists grow creatively and learn the business side of their craft,” she said, describing her long-term dream of opening an arts and design center.

Though she hasn’t yet secured a post-graduation position, Holland is actively applying and interviewing. She’s confident that her time at PVAMU and the experiences it afforded her have prepared her well.

“PVAMU allowed me to grow as a designer, a leader, and a communicator,” she said. “At another school, I might’ve been overlooked. Here, I was always seen.”

For the Holland family, graduation is a weekend full of pride. Charity and Mageste’ are close — just three years apart — and have shared nearly every step of their educational journey.

“It makes this milestone even more special,” said Holland. “Plus, it makes it easier on the family!”

Now that all four sisters hold degrees from the same HBCU, they’re looking forward to traveling together, something they’ve dreamed about since childhood. “We’re used to moving and exploring,” she said. “I’m excited to see where the next 12 years take us.”

With the last of the Holland sisters graduating, an era comes to a close at Prairie View A&M. But the family’s impact, like the bonds they’ve formed on campus, will endure.

“Not many families can say all their siblings graduated from the same university,” Holland said. “After 16 years of having at least one of us at PVAMU, it’s bittersweet to see this chapter close. But I know we’re carrying PV with us wherever we go.”

Click here to view a complete listing of this semester’s notable graduates.

By Christine Won

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