Storyteller in the Spotlight: Get to Know BHS Alum and ’25 Commencement Speaker Maya Eaglin

NBC News correspondent Maya Eaglin isn’t just reporting on news, she’s redefining how it’s told.  This year’s commencement speaker got her start from earlier days spent here at Blake, where she first dipped her toes into storytelling through the Blake Beat and the morning announcements.

Now she’s returning to the place where her storytelling journey began to give her speech to the class of 2025 on Wednesday, June 11th. In the weeks leading up to the graduation, Eaglin reflected on what she would’ve liked to have heard as a graduating senior. “It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of life after high school,”  she advises students to “hold on to the friendships and relationships that you’re making.” The moment it turns too serious or gets too stressful, she urges, it can lead to a “slippery slope.” “Always just focus on the enjoyment, the passion, the skill sets, the talents that you have, the great friends that I’m sure you’re likely making.” Her advice? Don’t lose sight of the joy in the midst of the pressure, and hold on tight to the relationships you’ve built along the way.

Eaglin’s journey from Blake to NBC  is as inspiring as the stories she tells. “My time at Blake gave me really great foundational skills,” she recalls. It was here she discovered the power of storytelling, not only through journalism, but also through performance, activism, and community, notably through her work in the Black Student Union and the dance program.

At Elon University, she found herself both challenged and empowered. “It was an excellent place to grow into a big fish in a small pond,” Eaglin explains, though she admits uprooting her life for North Carolina was a big leap. However, that resilience paid off; she now brings deeply human stories to NBC’s Gen Z-focused platform Stay Tuned, reaching audiences on Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. “We’re not asking people to turn on the TV at 6:30 p.m. anymore — we meet them where they are,” she elaborates—eventually, becoming a visible and authentic voice on a national level. 

Eaglin’s reporting spans from breaking news to intimate features, as she constantly seeks out people with a strong personal “Why.” One of her favorite stories spotlighted North Carolina teacher Shelby Latimore, who used fake rent and classroom jobs to teach students about financial literacy. “You could just see her heart,” she gushes, describing the segment as her “gold star” example of powerful storytelling. But for Eaglin, journalism isn’t just about headlines, it’s about empathy. “Sometimes I’m talking to people on the worst day of their lives, and sometimes it’s the best,” she reflects. “Either way, I try to hold a lot of space and grace.”

Authenticity is central to Eaglin’s voice. She remembers feeling pressure in college to conform, especially when it came to her natural hair, a topic many of the students at Blake can relate to. “I damaged my hair for a long time trying to fit in,” she admits. Now, she proudly embraces her identity, hoping to be the role model she didn’t see growing up. “It’s an honor to be a visible voice in the national media,” she says. To young journalists of color, her advice is clear: “Figure out what you like and don’t like. Don’t let fear stop you from trying. This is the time to experiment.”

Though she’s achieved what many would call a dream job, Eaglin remains grounded. “I have so much life left to live,” she says, smiling. And with her dedication to authenticity, storytelling, and community, Maya Eaglin brings a voice that deeply resonates, one that the graduating class is honored to receive this year.