Cultural Graduation Celebrations
Faculty Academic Procession Registration
This page includes important information about Cultural Graduation Celebrations, including event dates, registration details, and the purpose of each ceremony. For many students from historically underrepresented communities, earning a college degree represents a significant academic and personal milestone.
Cultural Graduation Celebrations provide an opportunity to recognize this achievement in a space that affirms identity, community, and lived experience. Each celebration honors the diverse journeys that lead to graduation and acknowledges the support systems that contribute to student success. These events are designed to complement the university’s official commencement ceremonies while offering an additional opportunity for recognition and celebration.
Rainbow Graduation
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 | 12–1 pm | Ballrooms B, C, D
Rainbow Graduation celebrates the strength, visibility, and pride of SSU’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) graduating students. The ceremony uplifts the stories and resilience of queer and trans students who have persisted and thrived in higher education while embracing their full identities. It is a joyful affirmation of love, authenticity, and community.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Graduation
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 | 4–5 pm | Ballrooms B, C, D
The AANHPI Graduation Celebration honors the diverse heritages, histories, and achievements of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander graduating students. Rooted in cultural pride and collective resilience, this ceremony celebrates the beauty of multilingual, multiethnic, and multinational identities across the Asian and Pacific diasporas.
We acknowledge that the term AANHPI is limited in capturing the full breadth of our communities. It includes, but is not limited to, Pacific Islander, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Desi, Desi American, Southwest Asian, Asian, Asian American, Multiracial, Multi-ethnic, Multinational, and Transnational Adoptee identities.
Raza Graduation
Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 5–7 pm | Green Music Center
Raza Graduation is a vibrant, bilingual celebration that honors the cultural pride, unity, and perseverance of Chicanx, Hispanic, Indigenous, and Latinx students. The ceremony embraces cultural traditions, music, and language as symbols of strength and resistance, highlighting academic achievement and collective empowerment.
Native American and Indigenous Graduation
Friday, May 22, 2026 | 12–1 pm | Arbor Lakes
The Native American and Indigenous (NAI) Graduation Celebration honors the achievements of Indigenous students whose educational journeys are rooted in ancestral strength, community, and connection to land. The ceremony recognizes the presence and contributions of Native students, staff, and faculty at SSU and celebrates the continuation of Indigenous knowledge, leadership, and sovereignty through education.
We welcome all students who identify as Native American, American Indian, and/or Indigenous, including but not limited to Alaska Native, Indigenous Hawaiian, and Indigenous Latinx.
Black Graduation
Friday, May 22, 2026 | 4–5 pm | Person Theatre
Black Graduation celebrates the brilliance, resilience, and unapologetic joy of SSU’s Black student community. The ceremony honors the beauty and diversity of the African Diaspora, uplifting the power of collective achievement, self-determination, and cultural pride. It is a space of affirmation and celebration for Black excellence in all its forms.
Support Cultural Graduation Celebrations
Cultural Graduation Celebrations are made possible through the generosity of donors, campus partners, and community members. If you would like to help sustain and strengthen these important ceremonies, please consider making a gift through the Cultural Graduations Donations Page.