Sponsored by the Gender and LGBTQIA Center, the event marked its 10th anniversary on Friday, April 29, and offered an opportunity to honor outstanding students, faculty and staff.
Elon University hosted its 10th annual Lavender Graduation and Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 29, with the gathering offering the opportunity to recognize members of the student body, university employees, undergraduate research and events.
Students, faculty and staff gathered in McKinnon Hall for the special celebration of excellence, with each member of the Class of 2022 in attendance receiving a lavender cap, a rainbow stole, a tassel and a framed certificate. For this year’s Lavender Graduation, graduates were given the opportunity to bring a guest, who then bestows the stole to them, adding a new personal element to the celebration.
The event was emceed by Luis Garay, director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center, with congratulatory remarks by President Connie Ledoux Book and a video message from members of Elon’s LGBTQIA Alumni Network.
The following were honored at Lavender Graduation 2022:
Outstanding Graduates
- Andie Weinberg
- Will Bruno
Employee of the Year
- Lauren Guilmette, assistant professor of philosophy and adviser to the Gender & Sexuality Living Learning Community
Event/Initiative of the Year
- The Kiki Ball
Research Projects of the Year
- Skylar Flechsig: “Breaking the Binary: Heteronormativity, Authorship, and Bisexual Invisibility in Literature”
- Note: there is a second winner but they have requested their information not be shared publicly.