Cultural Achievement Ceremonies
Virginia Tech is honored to host cultural achievement ceremonies for our community members.
Students who are graduating this Spring semester and wish to participate must register through the links provided below. You may register for as many events as you would like.
More Cultural Ceremonies will be added to this page as they become available. Please keep checking back!
Ceremony: Thursday, May 2, 2024 | 2:00pm EST
Reception: Immediately following ceremony
Location: East/West Falls Church Room | Virginia Tech Research Center | Arlington, VA
The greater Washington, DC metro area expanded campuses will host an Affinity Groups Cultural Achievement Ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating master’s and Ph.D. students who identify with the following communities: Asian, Black, First-Generation, GRAD Parents, Latinx, Veterans, and Women in TECH. Participating students will receive a commemorative stole which can be worn with their academic regalia during university commencement ceremonies.
An important hallmark of this ceremony is celebrating the accomplishments of the graduate students from our collective affinity group communities with faculty advisors, colleagues, staff, and family. For graduating students who wish to participate in the ceremony, please complete this form.
Registration Deadline: April 18, 2024
Ceremony: Wednesday, May 8th, 2024 | 1:00pm | Reception: Immediately following ceremony
Aliyah is a celebration of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students at Virginia Tech organized by the Jewish Student Union (JSU). The ceremony recognizes students for their hard work and dedication to the Jewish community and has historically featured a speaker from campus. Students receive a blue and white stole that they can choose to wear during University commencement ceremonies.
Students who wish to participate in the ceremony, please fill out this online registration form.
Location: Graduate Life Center (GLC) Multipurpose Room
Ceremony: Friday, May 10th, 2024 | 1:00 PM EST | Reception: Immediately following ceremony
The Native and Indigenous Achievement Ceremony was founded by Native student leaders in 2017 as a way to incorporate Native culture into graduation, as well as to celebrate the accomplishments of Indigenous students. The ceremony has grown steadily since its beginning. At the ceremony, students will receive stoles inspired by their cultural background. They will celebrate their achievements and receive support and recognition from family, friends, alumni, and faculty/staff within the Indigenous community at Virginia Tech.
Students who wish to participate in the ceremony, please fill out this online registration form.
Location: Graduate Life Center (GLC) Multipurpose Room
Ceremony: Thursday, May 9th, 2024 | 5:00pm EST | Reception: Immediately following ceremony
This event celebrates the accomplishments of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) graduating students. Participating students receive a commemorative cord, which can be worn with their academic regalia, as well as a certificate, and are invited to celebrate their culture and academic achievements at Virginia Tech.
For those wishing to attend as well as for graduating students who would like to participate please fill out and complete this form.
Location: Ceremony in Commonwealth Ballroom A: 5 - 6 PM
Reception: Commonwealth Ballroom B: 6 PM - 7 PM
Ceremony: Wed. May 8th, 2024 | 12pm EST | Reception: Immediately following ceremony
The first Cultural Achievement Ceremony at Virginia Tech, the Donning of the Kente began in 2013 as a celebration of African American heritage. It has continued to grow, with 250 students in attendance in 2019. The ceremony outside of Tech has a rich history, with the American tradition dating back to the 20th century, and the Kente cloth dating back centuries. At this ceremony, students adorn the graduation robe with Ghanaian Kente cloth and gather with family, friends, and colleagues to celebrate undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. Graduates will also receive stoles, which can be worn at the University’s commencement ceremony.
Students who wish to participate in the ceremony, please fill out this online registration form.
Location: Ceremony at Moss Arts Center | Reception immediately following in Commonwealth Ballroom
Ceremony: Tuesday, April 30th, 2024 | 6:30 - 8:30pm
First Together is a celebration of achievement for first-generation undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. candidates. Participants receive a cord, which can be worn with their academic regalia. We welcome first-gen students, faculty, staff, and family to share in the recognition of this very special achievement. A light reception will be provided prior to the ceremony. This event welcomes up to 200 attendees max (graduates and families). Please use this form to sign-up if you would like to participate.
Location: CID Lobby and Performance Room
Event: Thursday, May 9th, 2024 at 11:30 AM EST | Reception to follow immediately after.
Virginia Tech's Gesta Latina is a cherished tradition dating back to 2005, honoring the achievements of Hispanic-Latinx students. This annual celebration provides a cultural perspective on the accomplishments of our graduating seniors and graduate students. Participants in the 2024 Gesta Latina Graduation Celebration will be presented with a special commemorative stole from El Centro, designed to be worn alongside their academic attire.
For graduating students who want to receive their stoles and certificates, please fill out and complete this form.
Location: Commonwealth A
Reception: Commonwealth B
Ceremony: May 8, 2024 at 6:00 PM EST | Reception: Immediately following ceremony
The annual Lavender Achievement Ceremony celebrates queer and trans Virginia Tech graduates. The original ceremony, which began in 2009, featured 5 students and has grown to include more than 100 students in recent years. With great joy, the Pride Center, LGBTQ+ Caucus, and Ex Lapide Alum Society welcome family, friends, loved ones, faculty, staff, students, and community members to celebrate this momentous occasion. Graduating attendees are presented with a lavender cord and tassel to wear during University and college ceremonies.
For students who would like to participate in this ceremony, please fill out this registration form.
Location: GLC Auditorium & GLC Multipurpose Room (Reception)
Ceremony: May 5th, 2024 | 6 – 7:30pm Reception to follow
The Disability Community Achievement Ceremony recognizes the achievements of disabled graduating students. In collaboration with the Disability Alliance and Caucus, Services for Students with Disabilities, and with the help of OID, we hope you can join us to celebrate for the fourth year!
Participating graduating students will be able to receive a commemorative cord that they can wear with other regalia during graduation.
For students who would like to participate in this ceremony, please fill out this registration form.
Location: Moss Arts Center Amphitheater | Rain Location: Moss Arts Center Grand Lobby
Ceremony: Tuesday, May 7, 2024 | 3:00 PM EST | Reception: Immediately following ceremony
The Veterans Achievement Ceremony is hosted by the Office of Veteran Services to honor and support our student veterans for their academic accomplishments. We welcome graduating student veterans, friends, family, mentors, advocates and VT faculty/staff to join in recognizing our VT student veterans. As part of that recognition, student veterans will be presented with their military stole which can be worn with their graduation regalia.
Students must RSVP for their stole and the ceremony by completing this online registration form.
Location: Corps Leadership & Military Science Building (CLMS)