Lavender Celebration honors graduates who are undergraduate, graduate, or professional students at Elon University who have contributed to LGBTQIA inclusion on campus. Each graduate is recognized during the ceremony and receives a stole and certificate of participation.

Lavender Celebration is free to students and funded in part by donations to the Gender and LGBTQIA Center (GLC). To give to the GLC, visit our giving page.

14th Annual Lavender Celebration – May 2026

We are excited for the 14th Annual Lavender Celebration at Elon University in May 2026 with a special event to recognize undergradaute and gradatue students who have made a positive contribution to LGBTQIA inclusion at the institution through their identities, advocacy, allyship, and support. All are invited to participate.

The event details are:

  • Date: Friday, May 8, 2026
  • Ceremony Time: 5:00pm – 6:30pm (Gradaute arrive at 4:30pm)
  • Reception: 6:30pm – 7:00pm
  • Location: Alumni Gym, Kourty Athletic Center (104 E Haggard Ave, Elon, NC 27244)
  • Graduate Sign Up (link) sign up by Friday, March 20th (before Spring Break)
  • General RSVP (link)

Note: if you are a student who is graduating in December 2026, we will have a Lavender Celebration ceremony for you in then, final date TBA.

What is Lavender Celebration?

Lavender Celebration (fka as Lavender Graduation) is an annual ceremony conducted on numerous campuses to honor students who are graduating by acknowledging their achievements in college as well as their contributions to their university. The first Lavender Graduation Ceremony in the U.S. was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo at the University of Michigan. Many universities hold these type of ceremonies among the list of their university’s commencement ceremonies. For more information, visit here.

At Elon University, any student about to graduate may be honored, including both undergraduate and graduate students.  Students receive a rainbow stole and a certificate.

Why a Lavender Celebration Ceremony?

For decades students at colleges and universities around the country have been celebrating both their academic achievements and their cultural heritages at specialized commencement events. These events provide a sense of community for students who often experience tremendous culture shock at their institutions. Many students find these smaller ceremonies both meaningful and personal.

Lavender Graduation is an event to which LGBTQIA and ally students look forward, where they not only share their hopes and dreams with one another, but where they are officially recognized by the institution for their leadership and their successes and achievements.