Commencement 2019 is a few weeks away. In addition to the general ceremony where seniors walk across the stage with their classmates from their college, there are several other ceremonies such as the Cross Cultural Center’s (CCC) Cultural Graduate Celebrations and Early Entrance Program ceremony.

This spring, there is a brand new ceremony created by the Glazer Family Dreamers Resource Center (DRC). In its fifth year of being part of the Cal State LA community, the center will hold their very first Graduate Recognition Ceremony for undocumented/AB540/ DACA seniors in the Golden Eagle Ballroom on May 4. In previous years, students affiliated with the Dreamer’s center were recognized in a conjoint ceremony with EOP graduating seniors.

This ceremony is designed to set itself apart from other ceremonies by recognizing the intimacy and inclusivity that graduates have within their support systems.
Henoc Preciado, the director of the Dreamers Resource Center, believes that the ceremony should not only honor the students, but the parents as well, for their accomplishments throughout their students’ academic career.

Graduates are to sit with their loved ones at a table where, after a brief message from the university, they will be called one by one, up to cross the stage. During the ceremony, their parents will have the opportunity to walk across the stage and place a special graduation stole on their graduate.

The sash received at the Graduate Recognition Ceremony can also be worn at each candidate’s graduation ceremony. The ceremony is free of charge for everyone. The DRC hopes to have at least 30 students for its inaugural graduating class; they currently have 15 students signed up for the recognition ceremony.

In order to be part of the ceremony, DACA/AB540 students must make an appointment with the Dreamers Center and attend an info session where all information about the event will be presented to them.

According to Areli Gonzalez, coordinator for the DRC, the importance of the ceremony is that it provides an opportunity for “students to be visible, to be proud and celebrate this milestone.”

The next info sessions will take place on Wednesday from 10am – 4pm, and Friday from 8:30am- 9:30am in Student Affairs, room 214. For students who are not able to attend the session, they are encouraged to call the DRC at (323)343-3219. The deadline to sign up is Friday, March 29.