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Lavender Graduation and LGBTQIA2S+ Honors

  1. UNO
  2. Student Life
  3. Inclusion
  4. Gender and Sexuality Resource Center
  5. LGBTQIA2S+ Resources
  6. Lavender Graduation and LGBTQIA2S+ Honors

  • Inclusive Campus Policies and Procedures
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  • Queer and Trans Spectrum Definitions
  • Lavender Graduation and LGBTQIA2S+ Honors
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  • Safe Space Workshop & Ally Program
  • OUT @ UNO
2015 Lavender Graduates and Lavender Graduation Committee

2015 Lavender Graduates and Lavender Graduation Committee

Lavender Graduation and LGBTQIA2S+ Honors

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

Save the Date: Lavender Graduation 2023

When: Saturday, May 13th, 2023
Time: 11 A.M. - 1 P.M.
Where: Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom

You are cordially invited to the 9th annual

University of Nebraska at Omaha
Lavender Graduation
Honoring LGBTQIA2S+ and Ally Graduates

Special Notes: If you are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, Asexual, Two-Spirit, identify on the queer, trans, and/or asexual spectrums (LGBTQIA2S+), or ally student graduating during 2023 (May, August, or December), please RSVP using the Qualtrics link below to be recognized and celebrated during the ceremony.
If registered by May 5th, graduates will receive rainbow cords as well as other celebratory regalia.

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

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 28th, 2023. To nominate yourself or others, please visit this Qualtrics form: Lavender Maverick Award Nomination form.

UNO Lavender Graduation History

2015
Keynote: Dr. Meredith Bacon, retired UNO faculty member and advocate
Student Address: Borin Chep, former Director of UNO Gender and Sexual Orientation Student Agency

2016
Keynote: Ferial Pearson, UNO Doctoral Alumni, and National GLSEN Award recipient
Student Address: Anthony Hughes, former President of the Queer Nebraska Youth Network
Dr. Meredith Bacon Lavender Maverick Award Recipient: Dr. Jay Irwin

2017
Keynote: Frank Bramlet, UNO Professor, and TESOL Program Director
Student Address: Kersten Crate, former Director of UNO Queer and Trans Services Student Agency
Dr. Meredith Bacon Lavender Maverick Award Recipient: Dr. Tammie Kennedy

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

2019
Performance: Dominique Morgan, Executive Director of Black and Pink
Student Address: Peyton Wells, MBLGTACC 2018 Co-Chair and former director for UNO Queer and Trans Services; Jo'Von Pickens, founding member of UNO Melanated Queerations
Dr. Meredith Bacon Lavender Maverick Award Recipient: James Freeman

2020
No event was held. All were honored at 2021 virtual experience.
Dr. Meredith Bacon Lavender Maverick Award Recipient: Nikola Halcyone Zaporowski (honored at 2021 celebration)

2021
Student Address: Anaise D'Quila, QTS board member
Keynote: KP Patrick, former TRANScend facilitator and former MBLGTACC advisor
Dr. Meredith Bacon Lavender Maverick Award Recipient: Jen Skidmore, former TRANScend facilitator and former MBGLTACC advisor

2022
Keynote: Zhomontee Watson, former UNMC CAPS counselor and founder of Creative Counseling and Studio, LLC; Katie Kough, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and former GSRC graduate assistant
Student Address: Daniel Stokes, LezBiReal Queer facilitator
Dr. Meredith Bacon Lavender Maverick Award Recipient: Ally Nelson-Matute

meredith bacon at lavender graduation

Dr. Meredith Bacon

LGBTQIA2S+ Resources

  • Inclusive Campus Policies and Procedures
  • Inclusive Facilities
  • Queer and Trans Spectrum Definitions
  • Lavender Graduation and LGBTQIA2S+ Honors
  • The Big "O" Campaign
  • Queer and Trans Services Student Support Groups
  • Safe Space Workshop & Ally Program
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