The 2017 cultural graduate celebrations at Whittier kicked-off the College’s pre-commencement events where family, friends, and community members came together to honor and recognize the achievements and personal successes of graduating seniors. The traditions serve to celebrate diversity and to connect students with their culture.
Whittier College has long been at the forefront of diversity on campus. Students of color constitute more than 65 percent of the student body, making Whittier one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country. The Office of Equity and Inclusion, which led the production of the celebrations, offers numerous opportunities for increasing cultural interactions and dialogue on campus, and supports all students in their educational goals.
"The cultural graduate celebrations are becoming a tradition at Whittier College where we celebrate and honor the achievements of our underrepresented groups on campus, such as our API, LGBTQ, Black/African American, and Latinx students," said Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion Jenny Guerra. "These types of ceremonies are meaningful and important for not just the students but for their families and friends. Each ceremony is created with its culture traditions and with a sense of their pride identity. For example, during the Black Student Union Celebration, we open the ceremony with a libation ritual and for the Latino Graduate Celebration we had Aztec dancers."
The celebrations featured traditions that embraced each culture including music, food, and presentations. The Latino celebration was bilingual, where speakers spoke English and Spanish. The 2017 cultural graduate celebrations included the Latino Graduates Celebration, Asian/ Pacific Islander Graduates Celebration, Lavender Graduates Celebration, and ended with the Black Student Union Graduates Celebration.
