Ceremonia Raíces

Graduation season allows many students to take the time to celebrate their accomplishments, their stories and their beginnings as well as their futures. At William & Mary, Latinx students — students who are of Latin American descent — celebrate their heritage while they prepare to embark on their post-graduation journeys at the Ceremonia Raíces, meaning “Ceremony of Roots."

Nearly 50 Latinx seniors participate in the ceremony and receive green stoles with silver lettering saying “clase de,” or “class of,” and William & Mary.
"The Center for Student Diversity was ecstatic to hear from Latinx students their desire for a celebration," said CSD Director Kimberly Weatherly
Each graduate is donned by person(s) of their choice with a specially designed stole marking the end of their time here at William & Mary.
President Katherine A. Rowe welcomes the audience to the first annual Latinx graduation ceremony.
The ceremony is particularly meaningful for students who are first-generation college students, as well as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, although the event is meant to celebrate the accomplishments of Latinx students of all lived experiences.