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Lavender Graduation

Lavender Graduation is an affinity commencement ceremony celebrating LGBTQ+ and ally graduates and their accomplishments, achievements, and impact at UT. We welcome graduates of ALL levels (graduate and undergraduate students) to participate.

The ceremony is open to everyone that supports the LGBTQ+ community at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and all LGBTQ+ and ally students graduating in 2021 (May, August and December) are welcome to participate as graduates and receive an individualized Lavender Graduation certificate, a lavender stole, and other goodies in a LavGrad gift package.

Lavender Graduation 2021: Wednesday, April 21 at 6pm

Due to COVID-19 and accessibility reasons, we have opted to host 2021’s Lavender Graduation virtually via Zoom. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at pridecenter@utk.edu.

Thank you for your interest in participating in this year’s Lavender Graduation, and congratulations on all of your hard work to get here! Fill out the form below to register as a participating graduate.

  • This includes capitalization. Please double check this field before submitting!
  • Usually: ____@vols.utk.edu
  • examples: they/them/theirs, she/her/hers, he/they, etc.
  • (Example: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering; Master of Education in Educational Counseling, Master of Arts in Applied Mathematics; Doctor of Jurisprudence, Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science, etc.)
  • This will be read aloud with your description unless you prefer it not (please indicate below!)
  • We want to give you the option to be honored in your absence, and we understand if you are not in a safe position to participate publicly.
  • **if you did not consent, this will not be shared** Think Twitter/tweet length, if possible! This can include your leadership involvement, student organization involvement, research positions, work experience/places of employment, etc. Some other questions to consider: who inspired you to make it to graduation? What has kept you going? Any special shout-outs? Make it fun, make it serious, it's all up to you! Ex: "Sally was a proud sister of Delta Gamma, served as Treasurer of volOUT, and served as a SGA senator-at-large. She wants to thank her partner/friend/mentor for their constant support and the Hodges study buddy club for making it through this last semester! Anchors away!"
  • We are interested in sharing LavGrad grad highlight posts about our amazing graduates on our social, which would consist of your self-written blurb and picture that would be shown at Lavender Graduation and post a photo gallery on our social media to share about you and your amazing accomplishments. However, we know that some folks are not out in all settings, and we want to make sure that we are not risking your confidentiality and safety. We will not post anything about you without your consent.
  • Don't forget your apartment number, if relevant! We do not share your address with anyone.
  • If you're interested in connecting with the LGBTQA+ Alumni Council after graduation, please leave a non-UTK email below!

The flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System and partner in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway.