Previous Award Recipients
Learn about previous Lavender Celebration award winners.
Lavender Celebration
Lavender Celebration is a free LGBTQ+ annual graduation ceremony for LGBTQ+ undergraduate and graduate/professional students. Lavender Celebration honors students and commemorates their contributions to the University community while also celebrating their unique identities.
Graduates and scholarship recipients from the Lambda LGBT Alumni Association are recognized. Lavender Celebration also recognizes undergraduate and graduate student leaders and faculty/staff members with leadership awards. Following an in-person celebration, there is a reception with food and refreshments for everyone.
The 2023 Lavender Graduate Celebration will be held Thursday, May 11th, 10-11:30am in the TCC Ballroom.
Graduate Registration | Guest RSVP | Submit Award Nomination
If you have any questions about this year’s Lavender Celebration, please email lgbtqplus@usc.edu.
Celebrate With Us
The 28th annual Lavender Celebration honoring 2023 graduates will be held Thursday, May 11, 10-11:30am in the TCC Ballroom on USC’s UPC Campus.
RegisterGuest RSVPLavender Recognition Awards
Each year, the Lavender Celebration Planning Committee gives awards in 4 categories to recognize the students, faculty/staff, campus departments, and student organizations who have had a meaningful impact of LGBTQ+ student life or shown exemplary leadership in and for LGBTQ+ communities at USC. Nominations are due Friday, March 24th, 2023.
Outstanding Undergraduate LGBTQ+ Leadership and Service Award
This award(s) is presented to graduating undergraduate students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership at USC in campus programs, activities, activism, or policy work that exemplify an outstanding commitment to improving the culture and diversity of the Trojan network.
Outstanding Graduate LGBTQ+ Leadership and Service Award
This award(s) is presented to graduating graduate and professional students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership at USC in campus programs, activities, activism, or policy work that exemplify an outstanding commitment to improving the culture and diversity of the Trojan network.
Bridge Builder Award
This award is presented to a USC faculty/staff member, campus department, or student organization whose work has improved the student experience or removed institutional barriers for LGBTQ+ students at USC.
LGBTQ+ Student Organization of the Year Award
This award recognizes the LGBTQ+ student organization who has made the greatest impact on campus during the academic year – through community building, campus engagement, programming, activism or change-making.
General Lavender Celebration Questions
Lavender Graduate Celebration is the University of Southern California’s annual graduation ceremony for LGBTQ+ undergraduate and graduate/professional students. Similar to USC’s Black Graduate Celebration and Latinx/Latine Graduate Celebration, Lavender Celebration honors students from within the LGBTQ+ community to commemorate their contributions to the university.
The 2023 Lavender Celebration ceremony will be held Thursday, May 11th, 10-11:30am in the TCC Ballroom at USC’s UPC Campus.
Lavender Celebration has a keynote speaker who shares advice, words of wisdom, and their own life experiences with graduates. In addition, LGBTQ+ and allied faculty and staff members attend as do alumni from the USC Lambda LGBT Alumni Association. Other community members from local LGBTQ+ organizations are invited. This is an open event, which means anyone from campus can attend.
At Lavender Celebration, graduates are recognized and presented with a certificate. The celebration also recognizes and awards undergraduate and graduate student leaders as well as LGBTQ+ and allied faculty and staff members who have positively impacted LGBTQ+ life on campus. At the end of the celebration, there is a post-event reception for all graduates and guests.
No, Lavender Celebration is FREE for graduates to participate in.
The actual Lavender Celebration program is no longer than an hour and a half. We have an optional reception afterwards for networking.
The USC Lambda LGBT Alumni Association scholarship applications are available online and due in the early part of the spring semester. Undergraduate and graduate/professional students are able to apply.
The LGBTQ+ Student Center assembles a Lavender Celebration planning committee each year. The committee consists of representatives from the Center, USC Lambda LGBT Alumni Association, QuASA, graduate LGBTQ+ student leaders, and other interested students, staff, and faculty. If you are interested in joining, please email lgbtqplus@usc.edu.
Graduate Participant Questions
If you are a graduating student and identify as LGBTQ+, you are invited and encouraged to participate in Lavender Celebration as it is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize your contributions to campus and to be in community with other LGBTQ+ graduates. As a participant, you will receive a rainbow cord, special gift, and recognition from the Division of Student Affairs.
If you are a graduate, please complete the registration form.
Yes, guests are welcomed at Lavender Celebration. Anyone planning to attend is encouraged to fill out the Guest RSVP form to help the Lavender Celebration Planning Committee create the best ceremony possible for graduates and guests.
You will be contacted by the LGBTQ+ Student Center three weeks before the actual event.
Typically 50-60 graduating undergrad and graduate students participate annually in Lavender Celebration.
The actual Lavender Celebration program is no longer than an hour and a half. We have a small reception afterwards for networking.
Lavender Graduation is a cap and gown graduation but graduates are encouraged to present as their authentic selves.
No, please invite as many people as you would like to celebrate your tremendous achievement.
Invited Guests Questions
Guests are encouraged to fill out the Guest RSVP form to help the Lavender Celebration Planning Committee create the best graduate and guest experience possible.
Transit and parking information can be found on the USC Commencement website.
The TCC Ballroom is located in the basement of Steven Kathryn Sample Hall (SKS).
3607 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, CA 90089
For public transportation and parking information, please visit the USC Commencement website. The closest parking structure to the Ronald Tutor Campus Center (TCC) is the Downey Way Structure.
Yes, there will be food and beverage service at the post-event reception immediately following Lavender Celebration.
For general accommodations for the USC campus and Commencement weekend, please see the USC Commencement website. For accommodation needs related to your participation in Lavender Celebration, please email lgbtqplus@usc.edu.
Donate to the Celebration
USC provides outstanding, nationally recognized services to the LGBTQ+ community. With your support, we are able to continue our work and expand programs like Lavender Celebration. Consider making a gift to help our LGBTQ+ students to graduate and become outstanding members of our community.
- Recognition Awards for outstanding LGBTQ+ undergraduate and graduate/professional student leaders.
- Honorarium and travel expenses for a keynote speaker. Previous keynote speakers include writer and transgender advocate, Janet Mock, Executive Director and CEO for the Point Foundation, Jorge Valencia, and Lorri L. Jean, Executive Director for the L.A. LGBT Center
- Special gifts for graduates. Previous gifts include Lavender Road to Success, rainbow cords, and gift cards.