Signature Events

Lavender Celebration

The Lavender Celebration recognizes LGBTQIAP+ students and allies of all races and ethnicities and acknowledges their contributions to making WPI a welcoming place for all students. Lavender is important to LGBTQ history. It is a combination of the pink triangle that gay men were forced to wear in concentration camps and the black triangle designating lesbians as political prisoners in Nazi Germany.  The LGBTQ civil rights movement took these symbols of hatred and combined them to make symbols and color of pride and community.


All graduating students, including undergraduates and graduates, are invited to take part in the celebration. All community members are welcome to attend.

CONTACT
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME)
100 Institute Road
Worcester, MA 01609
Location: OASIS Multicultural Center
Phone: 508-831-5796
Fax: 508-831-5818

The Lavender Ceremony was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, 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 Ceremony in 1995. 

Preview Lavender Commencement rainbow stoles and lavender honor cords
Preview Lavender pot and lavender rose centerpiece
Preview Vanessa Cardaropoli '23 (Student of Distinction Award winner) and President Grace Wang
Preview Vanessa Cardaropoli '23 (Student of Distinction Award winner) and Mia-Kay Fuller, Assistant Director for Gender Equity and Sexuality

History/Heritage Months

The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education collaborates with student organizations and campus partners to celebrate the contributions of our multicultural communities at WPI. Our programs strive to recognize and appreciate the identities of our students, faculty, and staff members through education, dialogues, and community building opportunities.

Previous History/Heritage Month Announcements: