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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."
  • A student celebrates at the LatinX graduation ceremony.

    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.