The 15th Annual Lavender Graduate Celebration

On Thursday, May 12, 2022, 15 graduates participated in this year’s Lavender Graduate Celebration in Hagerty Lounge, with Performing Arts Professor and LEAP Program Director Shaunna Vella serving as master of ceremonies. Graduating English major and outgoing President of PRIDE club Shanali De Silva ’22 welcomed her fellow graduates. “Every single one of you is a testament to the dedication of this community,” said De Silva. 

Anthropology major and Communication minor Kulia Osborne ’22 delivered the keynote speech on the struggles that come with having multiple marginalized identities. “I always thought of queerness as loud, and I don’t mean that as a bad thing. I just thought of it as open and raw, which was something I was never allowed to be as a Black woman,” shared Osborne. “But there’s something so powerful to reclaiming something society has said you never could be.” 

During her time at Saint Mary’s, Osborne was heavily involved with the Intercultural Center, the Black Student Union, Student Coalition Against Abuse and Rape, and the Black Lives Matter Subcommittee of the College Committee on Inclusive Excellence. After graduation, she plans to move to Los Angeles to work with AmeriCorps.

This year, student votes for the Paul Giurlanda staff and faculty award resulted in a tie. Psychology major Myles McAroy ’22, who plans to pursue a counseling degree at the Wright Institute after graduation, presented one award to Psychology Professor Jose Feito, and Intercultural Center Director Legacy Lee presented one award to IC Assistant Director Margaux Kraemer. Vanessa Chena Davila ’22 presented the student leadership award to Justice, Community, and Leadership and Women’s and Gender Studies double major and Ethnic Studies minor Lauren Smith ’22. Smith dedicated her time at Saint Mary’s to student leadership, and served as administrative assistant for the IC and lead chair for this year’s BASH LGBTQ+ Cultural Night. 

After friends and family presented their students with their Lavender Graduate stoles and graduates had the opportunity to thank those who supported them along their journey, Gabe Welcher ’02 gifted students with their alumni pins.