The Indianapolis campus of Ivy Tech Community College held its 2nd annual Shades of Excellence Multicultural Graduation Celebration on Tuesday, Apr. 30.

Hosted by the campus’ Office of Diversity & Community Engagement, Shades of Excellence celebrates 2023/24 fall, spring, and summer semester graduates who self-identify in a variety of diverse ways within multiculturalism. 

Several communities and cultures were represented at the intimate celebration, where leaders and department heads gave special recognition to graduates who were part of their organization or utilized their services. Such departments and groups included Veteran and Military Services, TRIO Student Support Services, Disability Support Services, Student Life, Brother2Brother, Nina Scholars, Bowen Scholars, and PepsiCo Scholars.

Shades of Excellence consisted of a well-rounded lineup of speakers and representatives from a wide variety of communities, cultures, and campus departments, including Chancellor Stacy Atkinson, Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Equity, Belonging & Community Engagement, Amanda Bonilla, and Student Government Association President Ahmadzia Momand. 

Here are photos from the event:

Tribal Land Acknowledgement

Ivy Tech would like to acknowledge that the land on which our campus and other Ivy Tech campuses stand, the offices where we work, and the homes of those we educate stand on the historic homelands of many Native peoples, including but not limited to the Miami, Wea, Potawatomi, Delaware, Chippewa, Wyandot, Winnebago, Seneca, Kickapoo, Piankashaw, and Kaskaskia tribes. We honor this land’s Indigenous inhabitants, recall their losses, and call attention to the contemporary issues still faced by tribal people today.

About Ivy Tech Community College

Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.