Auburn’s Office of Inclusion and Diversity celebrates 2023 graduates

Pair of campus events feature guest speakers, awards

Auburn University’s Office of Inclusion and Diversity, or OID, recently held its Second Annual Celebration of Excellence in Diversity and the Second Annual Lavender Celebration on April 26 and 27, respectively, to celebrate spring, summer and fall graduates.

The Celebration of Excellence in Diversity was held in the Student Activities Center and recognized Class of 2023 graduates, including students from diverse backgrounds. The ceremony also honored all active Tiger Excellence Scholar Program, or TESP, graduates. TESP is a student achievement program in OID designed to support the persistence and retention of students through academic support, mentors, success seminars and various other university resources.

Student guest speaker Sydney Williams, an apparel merchandising major graduate from the College of Human Sciences, described how her Auburn experience has helped her grow.

“It seems like the journey just began yesterday, and here I am, days away from becoming an Auburn alum with experiences that have helped to build my leadership skills, shaped me into a young adult and prepared me for the professional world that lies ahead,” she said.

Another highlight of the event was the presentation of the Excellence in Diversity Award, which recognizes current faculty or staff member(s) with a demonstrated commitment to the success of underrepresented students and diversity, equity and inclusion at Auburn.

This year’s recipient was Robert Gordon, a senior lecturer in the College of Liberal Arts.

The second annual Lavender Celebration at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art honored self-identifying LGBTQIA+ students graduating in the Class of 2023. Students were presented with a lavender graduation cord during the ceremony.

“As I leave Auburn, I ask only one thing — to never stop learning,” said Juliane Vo, one of the event’s speakers who will graduate in December with a degree in graphic design from the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. “Never stop learning about the identity of our students. Never stop learning about how we can better support our fellow Auburn person.”

In addition to student recognition, OID presented Student Counseling and Psychological Services with the LGBTQ Advocate Award, which recognizes current faculty or staff member/s who exemplify advocacy and allyship for LGBTQIA+ students at Auburn.

To learn more about Auburn’s commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive campus community, please visit Auburn’s DEI landing page, OID’s website, Instagram page or sign up for the OID newsletter.