Students Celebrated at Affinity Graduation Celebrations at SIUE
The Inclusive Excellence, Education and Development Hub (The Hub) at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville hosted five special celebrations to honor graduates representing various historically minoritized populations leading up to the University’s spring 2023 commencement exercises.
“This is my favorite time of the year because every day for a week, we get to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of our students,” said Lindy Wagner, assistant vice chancellor for Inclusive Excellence, Education and Development. “Each day we get to look at our students and tell them we are proud of them, we see them, and we know they will do amazing things as an SIUE grad.”
SIUE recognized graduates who identify as Hispanic/Latinx, Black, Asian American, Pacific Islander (AAPI), LBTQIA+ and non-traditional during the week of celebrations. The pre-commencement ceremonies celebrated the extraordinary achievements made by these students. All five celebrations had the largest number of graduates participating since the start of the pandemic.
“We also know that each of them may have their own stories of success, struggle, perseverance, and resilience, and through it all they remained steadfast in their goals,” Wagner added. “We are just happy to enjoy this moment with them and acknowledge their hard work. It is truly an honor when they choose to celebrate this time with us.”
The ceremonies were originated by the Kimmel Student Involvement Center, the Student Opportunities for Academic Results (SOAR) Office and the SIUE Safe Zone program. Other organizations who supported and participated include the Hispanic/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association, Black Faculty and Staff Association, and the Queer Faculty and Staff Association.
Photo: SIUE held Hispanic/Latinx, LGBTQIA+, Black, AAPI and non-traditional graduation ceremonies.
