Students and administrators from the School of General Studies (GS) were honored at the 2014 Lavender Graduation on Friday, April 25, 2014.
Lavender Graduation is a ceremony that celebrates graduating LGBTQ and allied students. First started at the University of Michigan in 1995, the ceremony is now conducted at hundreds of universities nationwide including Princeton, Duke, MIT and NYU. The color lavender, adopted by the gay movement in the 1960's, is the main color of Sayville (Gayville), NY. Sayville is near Fire Island where the veterans of Stonewall hung out. This history of New York is honored during the ceremony as our graduates prepare to make history of their own.
The ceremony was sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA).
Awards and GS Honorees
Staff & Faculty Award | Dean of Students Tom Harford: Given to a University administrator acknowledging outstanding work in creating a supportive atmosphere, providing guidance, and raising visibility of resources for LGBTQ students as well as advocating for the needs of LGBTQ communities at Columbia University
LGBTQ Student Leader Award | Catherine Austin: Given to a graduating senior acknowledging his/her extraordinary commitment and outstanding leadership in supporting, building, and maintaining the LGBTQ community at Columbia University
Lea Robinson Community Engagement Award | Jessica Silfa: An all-class award recognizing outstanding commitment to raising awareness and visibility of LGBTQ issues in non-explicitly LGBTQ communities at Columbia University
Community Leader Award | Blair Vail: Given to a student in acknowledgement of his/her outstanding commitment to raising awareness surrounding LGBTQ issues and advocating for change through building bridges among communities at Columbia University
