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Cultural Ceremonies

Celebrating Culture!

At the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy, and Leadership, we celebrate cultural diversity through Temple University's Lavender and Rites of Passage Ceremonies, fostering inclusivity and belonging.

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Lavender Ceremony | Monday, May 5, 2025 at 1:00 pm-3:00 pm

Lavender Ceremony is a notable ceremony at Temple University, recognizing the achievements of LGBTQIA+ individuals. This annual event celebrates the academic accomplishments of undergraduate, professional, doctoral, and graduate students within the LGBTQIA+ community and community advocates. This year's event will be held on Friday, May 3, 2024.

To participate, student registrations must be completed by Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Eligible candidates include undergraduate and graduate students graduating in May 2025, Summer 2025, and December 2025.

For any inquiries or modifications to your nomination, please get in touch with  before the deadline. Let's ensure clarity and inclusivity as we honor the achievements of our LGBTQIA+ community members.

Rites of Passage Ceremony | Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 4:00 pm-6:15 pm

The Rite of Passage Ceremony celebrates Afro-identified undergraduate, professional, doctoral, and graduate students for their academic achievements upon graduation. This graduation ceremony recognizes students of Afro descent (such as Afro-American, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-LatinX, etc.) by awarding them Kente stoles. This year's event will occur on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. 

Student registrations must be completed by Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 11:59 pm. Eligible candidates include undergraduate and graduate students graduating in May 2025, Summer 2025, and December 2025.

For any questions or changes to your nomination, please get in touch with  before the deadline.

Important Dates

The list below provides important dates about Lavender Ceremony and the Rites of Passage Ceremony. Please contact for additional information. 

Date

Description

March 9, 2026

Applications open for Lavender Ceremony

March 9, 2026

Applications open for Rites of Passage Ceremony

April 6, 2026

Submission for Rites of Passage Student Speaker deadline

April 6, 2026

Submission for Lavender Ceremony Student Speaker Deadline

April 15, 2026

Application deadline for Lavender Ceremony

April 15, 2026

Application deadline for Rites of Passage Ceremony

May 5, 2026

Students arrive for Rites of Passage check-in at Tuttleman Learning Center Lobby by 9:00 AM

May 5, 2026

Doors open for family and guests at the Temple Performing Arts Center at 10:00 AM for Rites of Passage Ceremony

May 5, 2026

Students arrive to Mitten Hall Great Court at 1:15 PM for Lavender Ceremony check-in

May 5, 2025

Doors open for family and guests in Mitten Hall at 1:45 PM for Lavender Ceremony