Oscar Almonte Espinal

On December 17^th, The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is planning to virtually celebrate students of color, LGBTQ+, and first-generation students with a separate Cultural Graduation for those who are a part of the Class of Fall 2020.

The Cultural Graduation ceremony was initially introduced to the Penn State Abington campus just last year by the Director of The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Aneesah S. Smith. The ceremony is intended to honor students from marginalized groups by recognizing their efforts of persevering thorough college and finally graduating.

In 2017, “there were 3.91 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group.” Accordingly, having a cultural graduation is then a step toward recognizing those students who have  broken barriers to get their degrees. It is a program to make those students who are of color, part of the LGBTQ+ community, and first generation feel special.

As a farewell gift, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will be giving special graduation stoles and cords to the students that will match with their according identity. This is the third time that such a ceremony will be taking place at Penn State Abington, once again showing how important it is to have an office of diversity on campus that recognizes the efforts of students who come from marginalized groups.