Lavender Graduation Ceremony
May 16, 2024, 5:00 PM-7:00 PM
PSC, Atrium, Main Building
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About the Celebration
About the Celebration
For many historically underrepresented and traditionally marginalized students, graduating from college signifies success not only for themselves but also for their family and friends. For decades, students at colleges and universities around the country have been celebrating both their academic achievements and their cultural heritages at specialized commencement events. These celebrations offer students the opportunity to thank the people who helped them on their journey publicly. They also honor the importance of overcoming barriers within higher education and affirm the paths leading to academic success. The PEACE Center plans to offer other cultural celebrations in the future. For 2024, we will start with the Lavender Graduation.
Lavender Graduation is a celebration to celebrates our lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) graduates and allies. Lavender Graduation is a cultural celebration that recognizes LGBTQIA+ students of all races, ethnicities, and abilities, and acknowledges their achievements and contributions to the College as students who persevered the college experience. Through such recognition, LGBTQIA+ students may leave the College with a positive last experience of the institution.
The event will include a keynote speaker and an honoring of each graduate. Graduates also have an opportunity to vote on and recognize one student leader and one employee who has shown a commitment to the PSC LGBTQIA+ community. The Ceremony is a time to acknowledge the unique experience of LGBTQIA+ students and allies, celebrate their accomplishments, and see them onto the next stages of their lives. Each student participate may include one individual to present them with the sash. Participants and sash presenters are each able to share a one (1) minute reflection.
This ceremony is not in place of traditional graduation, but instead is meant to augment the graduation experience. Students will receive their sash in the week prior to the ceremony but may choose to pick it up the day of the ceremony.
The event will start with a reception from 5:00-5:30pm, ceremony will begin at 5:30pm. Registration for Lavender Celebration is open to all graduating students and the event is open to all PSC community members and friends and families of those graduating to attend.
The History of and Importance of Lavender and the Lavender Ceremony
The History of and Importance of Lavender and the Lavender Ceremony
The Lavender Graduation Ceremony was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, a Jewish Lesbian, who was denied the opportunity to attend the graduations of her biological children because of her sexual orientation. It was through this experience that she came to understand the pain felt by her students. Encouraged by the Dean of Students at the University of Michigan, Dr. Sanlo, designed the first Lavender Graduation Ceremony in 1995 in which three graduates participated.
Lavender is important to LGBTQIA+ history. It is a combination of the pink triangle that gay men were forced to wear in concentration camps and the black triangle designating lesbians as political prisoners in Nazi Germany. The LGBTQIA+ civil rights movement took these symbols of hatred and combined them to make symbols and color of pride and community.
Rainbow Progressive Flag
Rainbow Progressive Flag
$25
Transgender Sash
Transgender Sash
$25
Rainbow Disability Sash
Rainbow Disability Sash
$25
Sashes ordered through the PEACE Center will be offered at a discounted price of $25. Scholarships are available to pay for the full price of the sash. Deadline to complete registration to be considered for the scholarship is April 18, 2024.
Participants may order their own sash if they do not wish to participate in the ceremony
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the deadline to register
A: The deadline to register is May 3, 2024 at Noon. Deadline to receive a scholarship for the sash/stole is April 18, 2024 at 4:30 PM.
Q: What is the purpose of the Cultural Graduate Celebrations?
A: These celebrations honor the importance of breaking barriers within higher education for historically underrepresented and/or traditionally marginalized groups. They also affirm the different experiences and paths that lead to academic success.
Q: Who may participate?
A: Any PSC student who is eligible to participate in the Prairie State College Official Commencement. Students should also check with the Registrar to confirm that they are on track to graduate and have submitted all necessary paperwork. If you haven’t submitted your graduation petition yet, here is the link to do so: https://formsmarts.com/form/23r1?via=f8s.co. Participating students are not required to identify as APA, Black, Latina/x/o, or LGBTQIA+ and may identify as an ally to one of these groups
Q: What is the difference between a Cultural Graduate Celebration and the campus-wide Commencement?
A: Cultural Graduate Celebrations are simply that – celebrations. There is no degree conferred nor do they replace Commencement. They are similar to the celebrations sponsored by other programs or departments on campus that do something special at the end of the academic year to honor their graduating students.
Q: Is there a cost?
A: There is no cost to participate; however, there is a cost if students would like to purchase a sash/stole at a discounted price through the PEACE Center.
Q: What if we want to order a or sash but not participate?
A: Only students participating in one of the Cultural Graduate Celebrations may order sash through the PEACE Center. Participants will receive a discount through the PEACE Center's vendor. Non-participants may directly order their own sashes from a vendor at full-price.
Q: When will I receive my sash?
A: The PEACE Center will notify participants when sashes are ready for pick up, usually within a week of the ceremony. You may also choose to pick up on the day of the ceremony if you are concerned about losing it.
Q: How many people may I invite to the ceremony?
A: There is no limit on the number of people you may invite, but seating, food, and drinks will be on a first-come-first-served basis. It is your responsibility to invite individuals to this event.
Q: Will there be a rehearsal?
A: No, there will not be a rehearsal
Q: When and where should my sash presenter(s) and I arrive?
A: Please arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time? Students who arrive late will not be allowed to participate (it is your responsibility to notify your presenters of when and where to arrive)
Q: What should we do when we arrive?
A: With the other participants, please line up in alphabetical order by the last name. Sash presenters should form a second line next to their respective student participant. An PEACE center staff member will assist in the process.
Q: What should I wear?
A: Wear what makes you comfortable (no caps and gowns)
Q: Will my sash presenter sit next to me during the ceremony?
A: No, student participants will sit in front of the room facing the audience, whereas sash presenters will have reserved seats in the audience. A PEACE Center staff member will direct people.
Q: Will I have an opportunity to speak publicly during the ceremony?
A: All participants will have an opportunity to speak publicly for one minute. This time is an opportunity to thank family and friends as well as share personal challenges and triumphs in college. A bell will ring at the end of your time limit to help you be courteous to others.
Q: Will my sash presenter have an opportunity to speak publicly?
A: Sash presenters at the Lavender Graduate Celebration to speak publicly for one minute.
Q: Will food or beverages be served?
A: Appetizers and/or desserts along with non-alcoholic beverages will be served at the reception before the event begins. Alcohol is not allowed at any of the celebrations.
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