Through commencement week, graduating seniors at Saint Mary’s representing diverse ethnic backgrounds within their different fields of study hope to celebrate one last time. Leading the 19th annual multi-ethnic celebration is Adriana Petty, the director of Multicultural & International Student Services.
The origins of the celebration began in a small off-campus ceremony in 2007 at students’ request to have a separate event to acknowledge the unique experience that they had during college.
“It was really a movement of students saying they wanted to have a different kind of celebration to highlight some of their own journeys at Saint Mary’s in addition to the regular commencement,” Petty said.
The celebration has continued to grow from its small beginnings. This year, it is set to take place in the Little Theater of Moreau Center for the Arts on Thursday, May 14 at 5 p.m.
Scheduled programming will also include opening words from Petty, College President Katie Conboy and student diversity board president Nina Andoh, with an introduction of the keynote speaker given by former student government president Ivory Muñoz.
The keynote address is to be given by Kimberly Otchere ’08, the first Black student government president in the College’s history.
Students participating in the event will receive stoles with the original multi-ethnic celebration design alongside a secondary gift given by dean of students and campus life Gloria Jenkins.
“Our vice president for belonging, Dr. Redgina Hill, will be the one to place [the stoles] on, and while that happens, all of their names get read as well as what they plan to do after Saint Mary’s,” Petty said.
The send-off is meaningful not only to current students, but also for Petty, who is a 2001 graduate. She emphasized the unique experience of attending an all-women’s college that focuses on building the whole student, not just on academics.
The event hopes to provide a more intimate setting for students, friends and families.
“It gives them a different, special kind of experience doing it that way, because commencement is so big,” Petty said.
This year’s celebration will welcome 33 seniors. The 2025 celebration hosted 39 undergraduates and two graduate students.
