Multicultural Graduation Ceremonies

The Multicultural Graduations are part of the official Georgetown University commencement schedule and are a way to bring students of color and their friends and allies together for a final ceremony before graduation. These ceremonies are open to all Georgetown University students. There are three ceremonies:

Asian Heritage

Harambe

Despedida

The Asian Heritage Ceremony, established in 2011, recognized and celebrates the achievements of our Asian American and Pacific Islander graduates and allies of the Georgetown University AAPIA community. In particular, this ceremony honors the distinctive accomplishments of our graduates and commemorates the unique cultures that have shaped their journeys here on the Hilltop. Ultimately, we hope to showcase our graduates’ dedication to the greater APIA community during their time at Georgetown and encourage them to remain committed to the community wherever life may be take.

Harambee, meaning “all pull together” in Swahili, is an annual ceremony dedicated to recognizing graduating seniors who identify with communities of the African Diaspora, and their allies. Established in 2000, this ceremony collectively celebrates the individual achievements of students in obtaining college diplomas and honors the community and legacy Black graduating students and their allies have created and actively cultivated here at Georgetown.

Despedida is an annual ceremony dedicated to celebrating the cultural diversity and history of the Latinx community and Chicanas/Chicanos and their allies at Georgetown University. This unique celebration serves to recognize the completion of a rigorous journey through academia and involvement in various organizations at Georgetown.