Penn’s cultural centers will host a variety of programs and events in honor of the Class of 2025.
“The Cultural Resource Center End-of-Year Celebrations are a time to recognize the many accomplishments of our graduating seniors who have contributed to the mission of the centers,” Laurie McCaffrey, the director of strategic initiatives at Penn University Life, wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian. “Each year, we see consistent engagement and participation from our student community and incorporate their feedback into the planning process for future events.”
On April 29, the Pan-Asian American Community House invited students to a celebration in Houston Hall in collaboration with the Asian American Studies program. On May 19 — the day of Commencement — the center will continue its celebration of graduates with a reception for family and friends in the ARCH building immediately following Commencement, starting at 12 p.m.
The LGBT Center also welcomed all graduates and their families to its 11th annual Lavender Ceremony on May 9 in the ARCH building. All students who are graduating in the 2024-25 academic year were invited to participate.
Makuu: The Black Cultural Center will invite graduates and their families to a reception on May 17 that includes an awards ceremony to recognize students for leadership, service, and artistic achievements. Students are nominated for the awards by Penn community members, with a committee of staff members voting on the final recipients.
The annual ceremony honors students moving “on to their next phase in life,” along with “the entire senior class for all that they have done together on campus,” according to the Makuu website.
La Casa Latina, the main center for Latinx students, is hosting a celebration of graduates in Zellerbach Theatre on May 18, followed by a champagne reception in Annenberg Plaza. The celebration will be bilingual, hosted in both Spanish and English.
The center’s website described the event as a “culturally empowering celebration of graduating students that honors the many traditions that encompass Latinx identities.”
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“We are proud to uplift our students’ successes, express gratitude to those who work with all members of our communities and provide space for all who wish to participate,” McCaffrey added in her statement.
