Spring commencements and graduation ceremonies

POSTED ON Apr 20, 2023

Last week, the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan held the 7th Annual Hispanic/Latino Statewide Graduation Ceremony in Flint, MI. The event attracted high school grads, parents, community members, faculty, and employers. Last year, organizers said more than 90% of the 80 grads who walked across the stage were the first in their families to attend college.

On their website, the Multicultural Engagement Center at The University of Texas at Austin said they are currently taking applications from students interested in being the speaker at the Latinx Graduation for the Class of 2023. According to UTexas, the Latinx community at the university wanted a space to celebrate the accomplishments, successes, and achievements of all Latinx graduates.

The University of South Florida’s Spring 2023 Commencement will be held on the Tampa campus from Friday, May 5-Sunday, May 7. University of Texas at San Antonio has announced commencement ceremonies at the Alamodome on Saturday, May 20. Additional celebrations and activities will take place earlier in the week, from May 17 to 19.

St. John Fisher University currently hosts the unique Countdown to Commencement series. Recently, Puerto Rico native and aspiring physician Mariangelis Gonzalez was featured as a member of the Class of 2023.

She was nominated for being a strong advocate and supporter of fellow First-Generation Scholars, students in the Honors Program, and the TRIO-Student Support Services program.

“Being a TRIO mentor has been one of my favorite parts of being here at Fisher,” Gonzalez said in the video posted on YouTube. “I was able to find an amazing community here at TRIO, amazing people who have mentored and guided me through this college process,” she added.

The U.S. Department of Education website describes TRIO Programs as federal outreach and student services programs designed to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities in progressing through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs.

According to the citation, Gonzalez serves as vice president of the TriBeta Biological Honor Society, with a lifetime membership in an organization committed to improving student involvement and understanding of biological research and pedagogy.

She has also been a part of the Orientation Team for the past few years, volunteering to help new students become more acquainted and adjust to campus life.