An Evening to Remember

By Patrick Bohn, May 19, 2024

Lavender Graduation honors LGBTQIA+ students and their supporters.

LGBTQIA+ students and allies gathered in Emerson Suites for the college's Lavender Graduation.

(Photo submitted)

Each year, Ithaca College honors graduating LGBTQ+ students with a ceremony celebrating their educational journey. Originally called the Rainbow Reception, this year’s ceremony — the 22nd to be held at IC — was the first Lavender Graduation, the name given to the first such ceremony in higher education, held at the University of Michigan in 1995.

In addition to the undergraduate and graduate members the Class of 2024, the ceremony invites allies to attend the event in support of students.

“Not everyone can be out with their biological family,” said Crissi Dalfonzo, director of the college’s Center for LGBT Education, Outreach, and Services. “This event allows students the opportunity to celebrate with their chosen family. There are so many students who, if we don’t celebrate them, no one will.”

That was the backdrop for the evening, which saw Emerson Suites adorned with flags representing and honoring different identities.

“This event allows students the opportunity to celebrate with their chosen family. There are so many students who, if we don’t celebrate them, no one will.”

Crissi Dalfonzo, Director, Ithaca College Center for LGBT Education, Outreach, and Services

“This is an event our LGBTQ+ students can look forward to as a capstone to their time at IC,” she told the crowd. “This class in particular has had their share of hard work and resilience. Joining our community in the midst of a pandemic in the fall of 2020, the Class of 2024 has by no means had a traditional college experience. But in spite of their challenges, these graduating students made it through to the other side.

Graduating students were given honors cords and stoles during the event. (Photo by Patrick Bohn)

“We deserve the win,” she continued. “We deserve to focus on queer joy in this space — to honor the beautiful steps forward you take today into your lives and futures.”

President La Jerne Terry Cornish spoke next and honored the graduates in a visibly emotional speech.

“Your presence is a testament to your strength, adaptability, and authenticity,” she told the students. “You are advocates, artists, scientists, storytellers, and change-makers. Your visibility matters, and your voices can change lives. You will challenge norms, shatter stereotypes, and steward the dreams of future generations. May you find joy in authenticity, strength in vulnerability, and purpose in community. And may you carry from South Hill the spirit of Lavender Graduation and embrace all of your colors, for they paint a future that desperately needs all that you are...and all that you will bring.”

Following the remarks, students were called to the stage to receive rainbow honor cords, and, for graduate students, stoles. They were also given the opportunity to thank an individual who supported them on their journey by reading them a statement and presenting them with a rose.

“It’s the culmination of my entire college career. Being in the community means so much to me. This is one of the last areas I feel comfortable being my authentic self. IC has such a big queer population, and we have something that links us all together.”

August Rich-Remenicky ’24

For many of the students who took part, the event was deeply meaningful.

“It’s the culmination of my entire college career,” said August Rich-Remenicky ’24. “I put so much into it, and it took so much out of me. But being in the community means so much to me. This is one of the last areas I feel comfortable being my authentic self. IC has such a big queer population, and we have something that links us all together.”

Cecil Decker ’24 is somewhat of a veteran of the ceremony, having attended two prior Rainbow Receptions in support of other students, and this year, celebrating his own graduation.

Bonnie Prunty, Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life, received a Lifetime Supporter Award.

It's even more meaningful now that I've gotten to walk myself,” he said.

Decker also took the time to reflect on his involvement in campus-wide changes, and their impact on the LGBTQ+ community.

"Due to the support for the queer community, I've gotten to be involved in student leadership, including major changes like creating the Open Pages Residential Learning Community. It has helped advance my understanding of myself and of what we can do together."

Many of those campus changes have been enacted with the unwavering support of Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life Bonnie Prunty, who is retiring at the end of the academic year. Prunty was given a Lifetime Supporter Award in recognition of her tireless work supporting the LGBTQ community at IC throughout her career.

“During my time at Ithaca College it has been incredibly important to me to try to make sure that all of our students have as positive an experience at IC as I have had,” she said. “To that end I have worked with the and current and previous Directors of the LGBT Center to advocate for changes in policy and resources needed to improve the student experience for our LGBTQ students.”

For Dalfonzo, the event was a continuation of the groundwork laid by Prunty, Cornish, and others, such as Luca Maurer, former director of the center.

“I can take credit for what happened at this year’s event, but not for all the work that came before me,” she said.