Members of the Cal U community gathered in Kara Alumni House on April 16 to celebrate the personal and academic achievements of LGBTQA seniors and their allies.
Seated (left to right): Amanda Rhoades, Morgan Patterson, Rylee Walters, A’Quaisa Wallace. Standing (left to right): Jennifer Langilotti, Kirsten Willey, Jennifer Talley, Sheleta Camarda-Webb, President Geraldine Jones, Omobukola Inegbenijie, Viarney Almaraz, Sadie Attwood.
Lavender Graduation has been held at Cal U since 2014 and is organized by the Lambda Bridges LGBTQA+ Program Office and Sheleta Camarda-Webb, director of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Education.
This year, the event recognized 12 students who will graduate in spring, summer or fall 2019: Vianey Almaraz, bachelor’s in psychology; Sadie Attwood, bachelor’s in psychology, minor in African American studies; Jayda Harden, bachelor’s in psychology, minor in sociology; Omobukola Inegbenijie, bachelor’s in communication studies; Jennifer Langilotti, bachelor’s in English; Morgan Patterson, bachelor’s in commercial music technology; Amanda Rhoades, bachelor’s in theater, and design and entertainment technology; Jennifer Talley, bachelor's in communication studies, minor in African American studies; Zamira Thornton, bachelor's in gerontology, minor in psychology; A'Quaisa Wallace, bachelor's in psychology and criminal justice, minor in sociology; Rylee Walters, bachelor's in graphics and multimedia; Kirsten Willey, bachelor's in criminal justice.
“We celebrate the diversity of our students, and their many achievements,
said University President Geraldine M. Jones. “We appreciate your contributions
as members of our global society.”
“These 12 students are on the edge of their journey into greatness,” Camarda-Webb said. “As graduation season approaches, we hope your futures are filled with excitement and joy.”
Camarda-Webb also thanked alumna Jan Zivic '64, a support of Lambda Bridges and Cal U's LGBTQA community. Zivic supports Lavender Graduation and the Jan Zivic Outstanding LGBTQA Leadership Award, which recognizes exceptional leadership and service.