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 2020

When: Saturday, April 25, 2020
Time: 11 A.M.-1 P.M.
Where: Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom

You are cordially invited to the 6th 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 2020 (May, August, or December), please RSVP on the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center Engage page to be recognized and celebrated during the ceremony.

If registered by April 20, 2020, 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 .

Queer Gender Art Pieces Submission

For the first year, UNO Lavender Graduation Committee is requesting UNO students submit finished art for consideration in being presented at the event. The committee understands art expansively from dance, to written works, to performance, to sculptures, etc. At submission, the piece can be in concept form but it must be completed for the event. Any student who is eligible to submit a piece. All applicants will be notifed about the status of their submission at the beginning of April 2020. The theme which we encourage the applicants to consider with their submission is Gender Spectrum. Applications are due by Friday, March 6, 2020 by 11:59PM. Click here to submit a piece for consideration.

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
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, 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, former Director of UNO Queer and Trans Services Student Agency
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

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
Students Honored at Celebration: 25
Total Number of Students Honored Post-Event: 34

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, March 6, 2020. To nominate yourself or others, please visit ENGAGE form: Lavender Maverick Award Nomination form.