Elon University’s Gender and LGBTQIA Center hosted its 13th annual Lavender Graduation on May 9 in Alumni Gym, recognizing 87 students across the undergraduate and graduate programs.
Lavender Graduation serves to recognize undergraduate and graduate seniors who have contributed to LGBTQ+ inclusion throughout their time at Elon. Director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center Luis Garay said in an interview that the concept of a Lavender Graduation began in the 1990s, and Elon students brought the ceremony to campus in 2012.
This year’s ceremony celebrated 87 graduates, the largest class to date. Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley said the immense growth since the first year is powerful.
“Could we take a moment just to let that sink in?” Dooley said. “Eighty-seven. That number represents courage, advocacy, allyship, leadership and love.”
Each student who participated in the ceremony received a rainbow stole and tassel that they can choose to wear during commencement, as well as a certificate.
During the ceremony, four awards were given out to recognize three “Outstanding Graduates,” an “Outstanding Scholar”, an “Event or Initiative of the Year” and an “Employee Champion for LGBTQIA Inclusion.” Garay said these awards are nominated and voted on by the senior class.
Senior Christina Stafford won the “Outstanding Scholar” award, which is meant to highlight students whose academic scholarship contributes to raising awareness for LGBTQ+ issues.
According to Stafford’s nominators, as a Lumen Scholar, Stafford researched media influence on perceptions of prison abolition and served as the Honors Fellows director of diversity and inclusion and as the vice president of Elon’s NAACP chapter.
“It was really surprising and shocking in the best way. I put a lot of work into a lot of the research that I'd done, and to be able to recognize it in front of all of my community and see the full culmination of it all has been really great,” Stafford said.
Associate University Chaplain Julie Tonnesen received the award for “Employee Champion for LGBTQIA Inclusion.” According to her nominators, Tonnesen plays a crucial role in creating a safe place for queer students and leads Spirit and Pride, a campus group to support LGBTQ+ students’ exploration of faith.
“I was really surprised and really honored,” Tonnesen said. “I think, by and far, the most meaningful part of my job is the relationships that I have with students and just the interactions that I have with them on a daily basis. So really, I think the reward is a reflection of them and the meaning that they've had in my life and my work here.”
After the seniors walked the stage, the president of the LGBTQ+ alumni network, Jonathan Monti ’08, addressed the graduates. Following his speech, Monti was presented with a surprise honorary lavender graduation stole since he graduated before Elon began holding the ceremony.
“There's probably no words that I could find to accurately express what it is, but it means a lot to me,” Monti said. “I work in higher education, so creating spaces and opportunities for students to celebrate them is so important, and we know that it's always nice to give back, but it's also wonderful to be recognized.”