Lavender Graduation and LGBTQIA+ Honors

2015 Lavender Graduates and Lavender Graduation Committee

Lavender Graduation and LGBTQIA+ Honors

Lavender Graduation is an annual ceremony conducted on numerous campuses to honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and ally students and to acknowledge their achievements and contributions to the university.

Save the Date: Lavender Graduation 2019

When: Saturday, April 27, 2019
Time: 11 A.M.-1 P.M.
Where: Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom

You are cordially invited to the 5th annual

University of Nebraska at Omaha
Lavender Graduation
Honoring LGBTQIA+ and Ally Graduates

Complementary brunch will be served.

Special Notes: If you are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, Asexual, identify on the queer, trans, and/or asexual spectrums (LGBTQIA+), or Ally student graduating during 2018 (May, August, or Deember), please RSVP on the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center Engage page to be recognized and celebrated during the ceremony.

If registered by April 22, 2019, graduates will receive rainbow cords as well as other celebratory regalia.

To register as a graduate or RSVP, please use the following link:
Graduate Registration and RSVP.

UNO Lavender Graduation History

2015
Keynote: Dr. Meredith Bacon, retired UNO faculty member and advocate
Student Address: Borin Chep, director of the Gender and Sexual Orientation Student Agency
Students Honored at Celebration: 19
Total Number of Students Honored Post-Event: 24

2016
Keynote: Ferial Pearson, UNO Doctoral Alumni and National GLSEN Award recipient
Student Address: Anthony Hughes, UNO graduating student and Former President of the Queer Nebraska Youth Network
Dr. Meredith Bacon Lavender Maverick Award Recipient: Dr. Jay Irwin
Students Honored at Celebration: 25
Total Number of Students Honored Post-Event: 30

2017
Keynote: Frank Bramlet, UNO Professor and TESOL Program Director
Student Address: Kersten Crate, UNO graduating student and Former Director of Queer and Trans Services
Dr. Meredith Bacon Lavender Maverick Award Recipient: Dr. Tammie Kennedy
Students Honored at Celebration: 28
Total Number of Students Honored Post-Event: 34

2018
Keynote: Ash and Grace Hardell, International Queer Vloggers
Student Address: Starr Solomon, UNO graduating Doctoral of Philosophy student
Dr. Meredith Bacon Lavender Maverick Award Recipient: Ani Solomon
Students Honored at Celebration: 31
Total Number of Students Honored Post-Event: 38

Dr. Meredith Bacon

Dr. Meredith Bacon Lavender Maverick Award

At Lavender Graduation, the Dr. Meredith Bacon Lavender Maverick Award will be recognized. Please consider nominating someone based on the following criteria:

Continual or outstanding history of proven contributions to the UNO LGBTQIA+ campus community
Educator and advocate with the LGBTQIA+ population
Demonstrated themselves to be an exemplar role model for others

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, April 5, 2019. To nominate yourself or others, please visit ENGAGE form: Lavender Maverick Award Nomination form.