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Nearly 120 students, faculty, staff, and alumni gathered May 5 for ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s 2014 Lavender Graduation and Awards Dinner. Hosted by Matthew Antonio Bosch, director of the Gender & LGBTQIA Center, the speakers included opening congratulatory remarks by President Leo M. Lambert and alumni speaker, Caleb Tabor ’09, who shared his vision as a Lavender Graduate for a future united in resilience, integrity and community.

A packed room of LavGrad supporters for LGBTQIA inclusion.[/caption]Among the night’s honorees were the 2014 cohort of 16 “Lavender Graduates,” a term that honors ​​the accomplishments of LGBTQI & Ally graduating seniors who have helped to advance LGBTQIA inclusion across ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ. Additionally, nearly 200 votes were cast across six major categories of LGBTQIA inclusion.

Following a more than quadruple increase this year in alumni and employee donations to the LGBTQIA-designated fund, in large part due to ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s growing LGBTQIA Alumni Network, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ awarded its first complete set of LGBTQI & Ally student scholarships based on leadership, service and grade point average. The Lavender Graduates had a GPA of 3.6, while Katie Goulah and Kyle Whitaker earned scholarships for highest GPAs in the cohort. Additionally, scholarships were awarded to juniors, sophomores and first-year students in categories including “Student of the Year,” “Breakout Student of the Year” and “Academic Research of the Year.”

The night was bookended by a pair of musical performances. Opening with a live vocal Frozen/Pharrell mashup, a photo slideshow showcased the Lavender Graduates and their accomplishments, plus 2013-2014 advancements in LGBTQIA inclusion. Highlights included the presence of 13 student volunteers in the new Gender & LGBTQIA Center, the new LGBTQIA Employee Resource Group, the new Gender & Sexuality Living Learning Community, the inclusion of preferred names on university records, and 3,200 minutes of LGBTQIA education across high-impact student leader groups and guest lectures in academic classrooms. The night ended with a performance by ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ a cappella group, Twisted Measure, which included a Lavender Graduate singing a final solo performance.

2014 Cohort of LGBTQI & Ally Lavender Graduates[/caption]Here is a list of the 2014 Cohort of LGBTQI & Ally Lavender Graduates and Awardees:

LGBTQI & Ally Lavender Graduates:  Callan Andreacchi / Ashley Fowler / Katie Goulah / Katherine Hockaday / Kyle Keith / Peter Kesaris / Bryn Khoury / Lindsey Langdon / Eve Markovitz / Kevin Moore / Michelle Nussbaum / Marissa Rurka / Gloria So / Erin Strosnider / Kyle Whitaker / Jaden Lucas Wilkes

Highest Cumulative GPA:  Katie Goulah / Kyle Whitaker

Students of the Year:  Ashley Fowler / Lindsey Langdon / Robbie Linklater

Breakout Students of the Year:  Alex Vandermaas-Peeler / Claire Lockard / Olivia Guerrieri

Faculty/Staff of the Year:  John Pickett / Leigh-Anne Royster / Kate Bruce

Department of the Year:  Women’s and Gender Studies

Event of the Year:  Spectrum’s Dragstravaganza / EFFECT’s Vagina Monologues

Inspirational Ally Award:  René Jackson

Legacy Award:  Hillary Bruce / Kevin Morrison

Academic Research of the Year:  Ashley Fowler “Human Rights Norm Change:  LGBT Rights in an Enlarged Europe” / Josh Kaufmann & Marissa Rurka “Authenticity, Sexual Orientation, and Mental Health”

Gender & LGBTQIA Center Volunteers:  Justin Brown / Ray Dietz / Katie Goulah / Olivia Guerrieri / Josh Kaufmann / Virginia Kluiters / Cassidy Levy / Robbie Linklater / Sophie Natan / Becca Nipper / Krysten O’Hara / Kyle Whitaker / Jaden Lucas Wilkes

Presidential LGBTQIA Task Force:  Matthew Antonio Bosch / Hillary Bruce / Naeemah Clark / Mary Jo Festle / Tom Flood / Gerry Francis / Bryn Khoury / Claire Lockard / Rich Mihans / Jessie Moore / Rod Parks / Toddie Peters / John Pickett / Gabie Smith