Lavender Graduation honors LGBTQIA grads

Twenty-one graduating students and other top achievers were honored at Elon’s Lavender Graduation, held on May 3. The annual ceremony, held on college campuses across the country, celebrates achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, asexual and ally students. The event was emceed by Matthew Antonio Bosch, director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center, and included a welcoming address by Elon President Leo M. Lambert.

This year’s award winners included the following:

Student of the Year:

• Mark Funkhouser  (L3, Elon Law School)
• Shelby Lewis  (Senior)
• Eline Roillet  (Senior)
• Monique Swirsky  (Sophomore)

 Breakout Student of the Year:

• Amy Belfer  (First-Year)
• Fletcher Rowe  (First-Year)
• Xenia Zantello  (First-Year)

 Student Academic Research of the Year:

•  Olivia Guerrieri  (Senior)  “”Public Opinion on Same-Sex Marriage in North Carolina”
• Rachel Weeks  (Senior)  “”Active Bystander Intervention as a Means of Reducing Sexual Assault on Campus” 

Highest GPA Award:

• Casey Morrison  (Senior)
• Claire Lockard  (Senior) 

Department of the Year:

• Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education  (CREDE) 

Faculty/Staff of the Year:

• Brooke Barnett, associate provost for inclusive community
• Jenn Grimmett, media services assistant
• Rod Parks, registrar

Inspirational Ally Award:

• Deidra Smith, assistant director of alumni engagement 

​Event/Initiative of the Year

• The Female O – EFFECT Elon Feminists (and many co-sponsors)
• Hijabi Monologues – Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life (and many co-sponsors)

Community Excellence Award:

• Alamance Pride