Dual-Enrollment Credits Help Propel Janiah Tims To Valedictorian Of Grambling State University’s Fall 2025 Class – AfroTech
Grambling State University (GSU) criminal justice major Janiah Tims graduated on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, with a decorated resume — and a graduation cap to match.
With a 3.94 GPA, Tims graduated as valedictorian and the highest-ranking student of GSU’s Fall 2025 class, Grambling State News reports. She completed her degree in just two and a half years, having entered college with 21 dual-enrollment credits earned while attending Bastrop High School in Bastrop, LA. Although the curriculum was “pretty hard,” Tims said it helped prepare her for success as she arrived at the Historically Black College and University, per the outlet.
“I was really doing the same kind of work in the dual enrollment courses that I ended up doing in college,” Tims told Grambling State News. “So there really wasn’t a big difference.”
Tims said she completed most of her core college requirements through dual enrollment, including English 101 and 102, History 101 and 102, Music Appreciation, and Psychology 102.
A member of the Alpha Psi Sigma Criminal Justice National Honor Society and the Earl Lester Cole Honors College, Tims dedicated five to six hours a day to studying while also working part-time at Walmart — a job she recently transitioned into full-time. Her choice to attend Grambling felt natural, she said, describing it as a personal and professional benefit.
“It was close to home, and I have an uncle who’s a Grambling fan, so coming here was like a win-win (situation) for me,” Tims said, per Grambling State News. “The environment felt right. When I went on a tour of GSU, everyone welcomed me with open arms. It was that friendly feeling that made me want to go to college here. There wasn’t any kind of stuck-up attitude or anything like that.”
Tims said her decision to major in criminal justice came from what she witnessed in the world around her as she grew up.
“In my neighborhood and all, I just used to always see people go to jail,” Tims recalled, according to Grambling State News. “It made me want to learn about the justice system and how I could change it in a positive way. I watched a lot of TV shows like ‘Law & Order’ and learned a lot from them. They made me want to be a lawyer.”
Early Start Pays Off
Dr. Tazinski Lee, head of GSU’s Criminal Justice Department, noted that dual-enrollment courses have helped many students in the department get off to strong starts at GSU by allowing them to arrive already acclimated to college-level expectations and rigorous coursework.
Still, she emphasized, it was Tims’ own commitment and work ethic — shown through her involvement in departmental workshops, conferences, and scholarly discussions both inside and outside the classroom — that ultimately drove her outstanding academic success.
“We are expecting to see great things from Ms. Tims; she has a commitment to excellence and will not settle for anything less,” Dr. Lee told Grambling State News.
What’s In Store For Janiah Tims Post Grambling?
Dr. Lee expressed excitement as she and her peers waited to see if one of their students would be selected for the highest honors of this class.
“Once the announcement was made, we were all overcome with joy. Janiah Tims has set the bar high, giving those who come behind her the confidence that they can do likewise. She exhibits the values of confidence, character, and competence. Ms. Tims has not only excelled academically, but she has shown remarkable leadership qualities,” Lee told Grambling State News.
As for what comes next, Tims plans to attend law school at either Southern University or Louisiana State University, with hopes of becoming a family attorney, she told the outlet. Lee is among the many supporters in her corner, eager to see what successes await her next.
