Achievement Celebrations

Ceremony: Thursday, May 15, 2025 | 9 a.m. | Reception: Light breakfast will be served.

Organized by the Jewish Student Union (JSU), Aliyah is a celebration that incorporates Jewish heritage, traditions, and customs into this significant milestone. The event not only acknowledges students’ academic accomplishments but also recognizes their contributions and impact within the Jewish community at Virginia Tech and beyond. Through meaningful reflections and cultural elements, including a featured campus speaker, Aliyah serves as a space for celebration, connection, and recognition. It also serves as an employee recognition event, whereby a faculty/staff member who has demonstrated a positive impact on the community or exceptional research is recognized during this time.

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 15, 2025 | 10:30 a.m. EST | Reception: Immediately following ceremony

The APIDA Celebration is one that weaves Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) cultural traditions into the milestone of graduation, honoring both the academic achievements and the rich heritage of graduating students. This event creates a meaningful space for graduates, faculty, staff, and families to gather in recognition of resilience, identity, and community impact. In addition to celebrating students’ accomplishments, the reception also serves as an employee recognition opportunity, honoring faculty and staff who have demonstrated outstanding service to the APIDA community or have made significant scholarly contributions.

For those wishing to attend as well as for graduating students who would like to participate please fill out and complete this form.

Location: Commonwealth Ballroom

Ceremony: Thursday, May 15, 2025 | 1 p.m. EST | Reception: Immediately following ceremony

Rooted in the traditions and heritage of Indigenous communities, the Ati: Wa:oki Celebration provides an opportunity to weave community culture into this important milestone. More than a celebration, this event acknowledges the profound impact Indigenous students have had on campus and their continued commitment to their communities beyond Virginia Tech. In addition to recognizing student achievements, this reception also serves as a space to honor faculty and staff whose service, advocacy, and research have made a meaningful difference in Indigenous communities.

Students who wish to participate in the ceremony, please fill out this online registration form.

Location: Owens Ballroom

Details for this celebration will be added here as they become available.

Ceremony: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 11 a.m. EST | Reception: Immediately following ceremony

The Donning of the Kente celebration is a deeply rooted tradition that interweaves African and African American cultural heritage into the milestone of graduation, honoring the achievements and impact of graduates. This celebration incorporates the rich symbolism of the Ghanaian Kente cloth, a representation of history, resilience, and excellence. Beyond recognizing academic success, the event affirms the legacy of leadership, cultural pride, and the contributions of graduates to the Virginia Tech community and beyond. In addition to recognizing student achievements, this reception also serves as a space to honor faculty and staff whose service, advocacy, and research have made a meaningful difference within the community.

Students who wish to participate in the ceremony, please fill out this online registration form.

Location: Ceremony at Moss Arts Center

Details for this celebration will be added here as they become available.

Event: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 1 p.m. EST | Reception to follow immediately after.

Since its founding in 2005, Gesta has been a cultural and academic celebration of graduates, recognizing their resilience, contributions, and impact within Virginia Tech and the greater community. Each year, one outstanding student is honored for their service and dedication to the Latinx community at Tech in memory of Dr. Antonio Fernandez Vazquez, a founding force behind this cherished tradition. The time also serves to recognize faculty/staff members who have demonstrated outstanding service or research impacting the community.

For graduating students who want to receive their stoles and certificates, please fill out and complete this form.

Location: Commonwealth A and B

Ceremony: Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 6 p.m. EST | Reception: Immediately following ceremony

Lavender is a heartfelt celebration honoring the impact of the LGBTQ+ community on the Virginia Tech campus. This event serves as a space of joy, resilience, and affirmation, recognizing the unique challenges and triumphs of LGBTQ+ students in higher education. It brings together students, faculty, staff, and loved ones to celebrate identity, community, and the achievements of graduating Hokies. It also recognizes faculty and staff members who have made a substantial contribution to the community on campus.

For students who would like to participate in this ceremony, please fill out this registration form. 

Location: GLC Auditorium & GLC Multipurpose Room (Reception)

Ceremony: TBD

The Veterans Celebration 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.

Location: TBD