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 graduation stole and certificate.

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.

13th Annual Lavender Graduation – December 2025

We are excited for the 13th Annual Lavender Graduation at Elon University in December 2025 with a special event to recognize graduate students from School of Law and School of Health Sciences 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:

    • Presented by: Division of Inclusive Excellence & Gender and LGBTQIA Center
    • Date: Thursday, December 11, 2025
    • Ceremony Time: 9:30am (Graduates arrive at 9:00am)
    • Reception: Light refreshments served before the ceremony
    • Location: Lakeside Meeting Rooms, Elon University (200 Campus Drive, Elon, NC 27244)
    • RSVP:
      • Graduates – Sign Up Form (Closes Monday, Nov 14, 2025)
        • Note: If you are a stole bearer for a graduate, you do not have to RSVP.
      • General RSVP – TBA
    • Questions? Email the GLC at glc@elon.edu.

Note: if you are a student who is graduating in May 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 1st Lavender Graduation Ceremony in the U.S. was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo at the University of Michigan. Many universities hold Lavender Graduation 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.