奥尔巴尼J. 博雷加德公平中心, 正义, 和自由 held its second annual Celebration of Achievement and Excellence on May 8. The celebration featured the second annual lavender graduation and first-generation college graduate recognitions, 哪一个 是去年由博雷加德中心在主要研究建立的.
联合国大学校长詹姆斯. 小迪安. awarded the first-generation college graduate medallions to participating graduates. The first-generation college graduate medallions are awarded to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of graduating students who are first in their family to complete a degree from a college or university.
“这种认可很特别，因为它认可了无声的挑战, 内部疑虑, 以及跨越许多人从未经历过的障碍所需要的纯粹努力. It is a celebration not just of personal success but a communal victory over the hidden hurdles that often accompany the journey of first-generation college students,学生发言人蒂莫西·拉拉门提克说. “我们把这看作是一座灯塔，呼吁我们所有人采取行动. 我们必须支持和激励第一代大学生的未来.”
Senior Vice Provost for Student Life Kenneth Holmes awarded the lavender stoles to participating graduates. Lavender stoles are awarded to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of graduating students who identify within the LGBTQIA+ community.
“我们中的许多人都面临着挑战和障碍, feeling at times like our voices were not being heard or that our efforts were in vain. But today's celebration is proof that our persistence has paid off,” said student speaker Lex King. “这证明了我们的担忧没有被忽视, and that progress is underway to address the issues we've grappled with during our time here. This celebration demonstrates the power of people coming together to foster positive change and symbolizes what we can achieve in working together.”
Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Vice President for the Division of Diversity, 股本, and Inclusion Nadine Petty awarded the Kente Cloth stoles to participating graduates. Kente Cloth stoles are awarded to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of graduating students who identify within the BIPOC community and students from other historically excluded backgrounds.
“It is because of events like the Beauregard Center’s Celebration of Excellence and Achievement that we feel heard and recognized for all our hard work and accomplishments, 学生发言人贾思敏·罗德里格斯说. “我们是一群拥有独特天赋和优势的学生和人们. The Kente Cloth stole symbolizes our journeys and the journeys of many students who have come before us and who will come after us. 它象征着力量和毅力.”
亚什旺特·普拉卡什·维亚斯是奥尔巴尼J. 博雷加德公平中心, 正义, 和自由, 以欢迎毕业生及其家人和朋友开始庆祝活动.
“Education in general and postsecondary education specifically have become a cornerstone of our society. 在没有访问权限的情况下, 股本, 和包容, the same cornerstone becomes a system that holds and perpetuates systemic inequities and marginalization of individuals,维亚斯说. “亲和力的庆祝活动, 比如成就和卓越庆典, celebrate perseverance and achievement in the face of historic and ongoing exclusion and marginalization. This event is organized to offer community and to honor the contributions and collective experience and achievements of participating graduates.”
Student leaders from the Diversity Support Coalition were also recognized at the celebration. The Diversity Support Coalition is an umbrella student organization with seven member organizations: Black Student Union, 亚洲联合联盟, 中东文化协会, MOSIACO, 希勒尔, 联盟, 以及美国原住民文化协会.
The Diversity Support Coalition is housed within and supported by the Beauregard Center. DSC促进和支持多元文化主义, 包容, diversity and 股本 at 主要研究 through educational and cultural programming and advocacy efforts. Educational and cultural programming offered by the DSC and its member organizations collectively draw thousands of students, 教师, 工作人员和社区成员在学年.
“I have the privilege of serving as the advisor to the Diversity Support Coalition and its member organizations. I say privilege because it has been an absolute joy to witness their leadership this academic year,维亚斯说.
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