Voting open until 7pm on Friday, April 25th
Who’s Eligible? Faculty, staff, or campus affiliates/partners
Who Can Vote? Only students! Undergraduate and graduate students can both vote!
Why This Award Matters: This is the award that celebrates a true champion—someone who has consistently gone above and beyond to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for queer students at UMBC. Whether through mentorship, advocacy, or everyday kindness, this person has made a lasting impact on our community. This is a lifetime award, meaning once you win, you’re forever a legend!
RSVP TODAY for our end of the year Celebration & Awards!
Student Belonging (formerly known as Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, & Belonging, or i3b) in the Division of Student Affairs has hosted celebration ceremonies for Latinx, Black, and LGBTQIA+ / queer students for several years. This year, we are excited to add the Asian Cultural Celebration & Awards to the lineup. These three affinity events will honor and celebrate the achievements of UMBC's outstanding community members and graduating students.
The Lavender celebration is in recognition of the achievements of queer / LGBTQIA2+ community at UMBC, which is inclusive of students, faculty, staff, alumni, campus affiliates, and our allies. This year’s graduation celebration will focus on the theme “Power in Queer Joy.”
The 12th Annual Lavender Celebration & Awards
Monday, May 19, 2025
5:30 - 8pm
Skylight, The Commons 3rd Floor
This celebration includes:
Keynote speeches from an undergraduate and graduate student in the community.
An award component in celebration of the efforts and achievements accomplished in the past year. We have redone the awards for this year’s celebration, and our new award line up now includes awards highlighting inclusive and welcoming faculty and staff, up-and-coming students, students engaging in inclusive excellence and activism, students promoting radical love and belonging, efforts promoting the queer community, and graduating students or faculty/staff who have created a legacy worth celebrating.
A creative presentation moment in the celebration that highlights a performance, artwork, or other creative endeavor made in the last year by a queer student. We also have a second student showcasing their work, gallery-style, in the Fireside Lounge throughout the event.
A moment of celebration and farewell for our graduating students, who receive a special token to take forward with them.
Our Lavender Celebration & Awards is just one of countless Lavender events across the globe. According to the Human Rights Campaign, Lavender was created by Dr. Ronni Santo, a Jewish Lesbian who was denied the opportunity to attend the graduations of her biological children because of her sexual orientation. It was through this experience that she came to understand the pain felt by her students. Encouraged by the Dean of Students at the University of Michigan, Dr. Sanlo designed the first Lavender event in 1995.
Dress code: We encourage all attendees and graduates to dress in their "celebration best." While cap and gown are not required, we would be thrilled to see attendees join us in cowboy or western themed apparel (cowboy hats in particular!) in the spirit of this semester’s Pride theme. This is not required, please feel free to come in whatever is affirming and comfortable for you!
For those interested in attending, RSVP HERE (https://forms.gle/7HYsxsAAaJBNKH8g6)! Graduates that RSVP between Monday, April 14th and Monday, April 28th at 6pm will be highlighted during the event and receive honorary graduation cords.
If you have any questions, please email the Lavender Planning Committee co-chairs: Darcie Adams at dadams4@umbc.edu or Zoe Brown at zoebrown@umbc.edu.
This event is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.
The link to submit nominations for awards is here! (https://forms.gle/bbeygJuLUfJVbqT4A). Nominations are due Monday 4/14!
Recognizing Extraordinary Champions for Queer Students!
Award Quantity: 1
Who’s Eligible? Faculty, staff, or campus affiliates/partners
Who Decides? Only students! You nominate, you vote, you choose the winner!
Why This Award Matters: This is the award that celebrates a true champion—someone who has consistently gone above and beyond to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for queer students at UMBC. Whether through mentorship, advocacy, or everyday kindness, this person has made a lasting impact on our community. This is a lifetime award, meaning once you win, you’re forever a legend!
How to Nominate: In 3-4 sentences, share how this individual has positively impacted the queer student community. Tell us a story, share a memory, or highlight a moment when they made a difference.
Honoring Those Who Leave a Timeless Impact!
Award Quantity: Up to 2 (if available—1 undergraduate & 1 graduate) or 1 if awarded to a non-student
Who’s Eligible? Graduating students or faculty, staff, alumni, or campus partners
Why This Award Matters: Some people don’t just show up—they transform the world around them. The Legacy Award honors those who have made an unforgettable, lasting impact on the UMBC queer community. Whether they are a graduating student or a dedicated faculty, staff, alum, or campus partner, this award celebrates their commitment to radical love, belonging, and inclusive excellence. Their contributions have shaped UMBC’s queer community in priceless ways, and this award ensures their legacy is never forgotten.
How to Nominate: In 5-6 sentences, tell us about this person’s extraordinary impact on UMBC’s queer community. Share a story, a moment, or a memory that captures their dedication. What have they done to make a difference? How have they created a culture of inclusion and belonging? Please also list any previous Lavender Awards they’ve won.
Recognizing Rising Stars at UMBC!
Award Quantity: Up to 2 (if available—1 undergraduate & 1 graduate)
Who’s Eligible?
1st & 2nd year traditional undergraduates
1st-year transfer students
1st-year master’s students
1st & 2nd year PhD students
Why This Award Matters: Some students hit the ground running, and we see you! The New Grit Award honors students who, despite being new to UMBC, have already made a positive, lasting impact. Whether through leadership, involvement, or simply bringing energy and passion to campus life, these students are setting the stage for an incredible journey ahead.
Celebrating Those Who Stand Up and Speak Out
Award Quantity: Up to 2 (if available—1 undergraduate & 1 graduate)
Who’s Eligible? Students who embody the university’s core values of inclusive excellence and social justice
Why this Award Matters: This award recognizes those who don’t just talk about change but actively "take up the mantle"—following in the footsteps of UMBC faculty and staff who champion activism and mutual aid in Baltimore and beyond.
At the heart of this award is the belief that every act of activism matters:
All activism is needed—from grassroots organizing to global advocacy.
Small activism is activism—because even the smallest actions create waves of change.
Radical self-care is activism—sustaining yourself is part of sustaining the movement.
This award honors students who boldly stand up, speak out, and take action in any form of activism—whether through mutual aid, hyperlocal initiatives, or national and global movements. Students who have collaborated with faculty or staff in their advocacy efforts are welcome to be nominated, but no formal affiliation is required.
Honoring Those Who Make UMBC a Home for All
Award Quantity: Up to 2 (if available—1 undergraduate & 1 graduate)
Who’s Eligible? Students who embody the spirit of radical love and belonging
Why This Award Matters: Some students don’t just participate in the UMBC community—they transform it. The Radical Love & Belonging Award recognizes students who create spaces of safety, inclusion, and belonging everywhere they go. These individuals see, hear, and uplift those around them, making UMBC a place where everyone feels valued. They don’t just talk about inclusion—they live it through compassion, empowerment, and radical love.
Celebrating Students Who Elevate Queer Voices & Issues!
Award Quantity: Up to 2 (if available—1 undergraduate & 1 graduate)
Who’s Eligible? Students whose work centers queer people in some way
What Qualifies? Any effort from the past calendar year that increases queer visibility, advocacy, or well-being on or off-campus!
Why This Award Matters: Some students don’t just support the queer community—they amplify it. The Amplifier Award honors students who are actively raising awareness, advocating for queer issues, and creating meaningful change. Whether through research, leadership, activism, creative projects, or service, these students push boundaries, spark conversations, and make UMBC and beyond a better place for queer people.
Know someone making waves for the queer community? Nominate them and help us amplify their impact!
These awards are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.
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