Virginia Tech University, located in the southwestern Virginia town of Blacksburg, is a public university and like many universities, held graduation ceremonies. But, what made it unique is that the university held ten different graduation ceremonies to celebrate their ethnic diversity. Here is the list of these “cultural achievement ceremonies” according to their website:
- Aliyah, a celebration of achievement for Jewish undergraduate and graduate students, Wednesday, May 15, 1:30 p.m., in Room 219 in Squires Student Center.
- American Indian & Indigenous, Thursday, May 16, 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the Brush Mountain Room
- Asian American, Thursday, May 16, 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Graduate Life Center Auditorium
- Donning of the Kente, a celebration of achievement for Black and African American undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. candidates, for winter and spring graduates, Thursday, May 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Commonwealth Ballroom
- Gesta Latina, a Hispanic-Latino achievement ceremony, Wednesday, May 15, 4-6 p.m. in Haymarket Theatre
- International Student Achievement, Wednesday, May 15, 7-9 p.m. in Commonwealth Ballroom
- Lavender, a celebration of achievement for graduating students of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and ally community, Wednesday, May 15, 5-7 p.m. in the Graduate Life Center Auditorium
- Muslim, Wednesday, May 15, 3 p.m. in Old Dominion Ballroom
- Students in Recovery, Thursday, May 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Hahn Garden Pavilion
- Veterans, Thursday, May 16, 10 a.m.-noon at Holtzman Alumni Center.
