Black Graduation Celebration
The Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion, the Kimmel Student Involvement Center, the SOAR Office, and the Office for the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will host SIUE's Black Graduation Celebration on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 from 4pm - 5:30pm in the Conference Center of the Morris University Center.
What is the Black Graduation Celebration?
The Black Graduation Celebration is a pre-commencement celebration to honor African and African American students who, through unyielding determination and academic achievements, have successfully completed an undergraduate, graduate or professional degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The ceremony acknowledges the sense of scholarly community among students and honors African and African American culture and culminates with a Kente Stole presentation.
Participation in the SIUE Black Graduation Celebration is open to all SIUE undergraduate, graduate and professional students who will earn their degree in December of 2019. Only students who have registered by Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at Noon are guaranteed to be listed in the program, receive their recognition certificate and Kente stole.
Registration will open Friday, November 1, 2019 and can be completed by clicking HERE.
Registration will close on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at Noon. No exception. No additional participants will be added after this date. After you register, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from Kelly Jo Karnes at some point prior to the ceremony with details/expectations for the event.
Note: No NPHC Kente stoles will be offered.
BGC Event Details
We ask that you please arrive at the MUC no later than 3:30pm on the day of the program. You will need to check-in and complete a card to be read as you cross the stage. We do request that all participants please wear all black/mostly black (dark colored) clothing for the event. There will be a large group photo taken after each person has received their stole.
There will a reception directly following the ceremony for participants and their guests.
The Kente Ceremony
Each graduate participating in the Black Graduation Celebration will receive a Kente stole, native to Ghana. Though Kente was developed in the 17th century by the Ashanti people, it has its roots in a long tradition of African weaving, dating back to about 3000 B.C. Often reserved for royalty, the stole is a visual representation of history, philosophy, ethics, oral literature, religious beliefs, social values and political thought.
SIUE Black Graduation Celebration is...
- An event for graduates to invite your family, close friends and those most important to you
- An opportunity to honor YOU and all you have accomplished at SIUE
- A special gathering you would ask a favorite professor or staff member to attend
- The event where you can receive your Kente stole to wear at your SIUE Commencement Ceremony.
PLEASE NOTE: This is not an actual commencement ceremony. It is a pre-commencemt celebration for any graduating African or African American students and does not replace the formal SIUE Commencement ceremonies taking place on December 13th/14th.
