Instructional Leadership, emphasis: K-12 School Leadership (MEd)
Students hug in front of a presentation screen that reads "Rainbow Student Graduates"
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Rainbow Ceremony

Welcome

We are excited to celebrate with you at this fall’s Lumberjacks of Inclusion ceremony!

History of the Rainbow Convocation

Rainbow Convocation recognizes and celebrates the achievements of graduates who identify in the 2SLGBTQIA+ Lumberjack community. This is an important celebration for 2SLGBTQIA+ graduates – many of whom do not receive support or encouragement from their families and communities because of their identities. This is why we kindly ask for attendees to refrain from taking pictures or videos during the ceremony so students and graduates are not accidentally outed without their permission.

The first Lavender Graduation Ceremony, the more common name for Rainbow Convocation, was created in 1995 by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, who was not allowed to attend the graduations of her biological children because of her identity as a Jewish Lesbian. The first Rainbow Convocation at Northern Arizona University took place in May 2012 with almost 20 graduates and the rainbow flag distinguishing their stoles.

The original rainbow flag was created in 1978 by Gilbert Baker (1951- 2017), a self-described “Gay Betsy Ross,” for the Gay Freedom Pride Parade in San Francisco, which took place that year at the urging of Harvey Milk and other gay rights movement leaders. The very first flags were created in the attic of The Gay Community Center in San Francisco by using trash bins full of dye and stitching each individual color together.

The first rainbow flag originally used eight colors where each stripe had a significant meaning: pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sun, green for nature, turquoise for magic, blue for peace and purple for spirit. Since 1978, the flag itself has changed with the most common version containing 6 colors. This was because pink fabric became too expensive, according to Gilbert Baker, while turquoise and blue were combined into royal blue. Today, the rainbow flag is the most recognized symbol for inclusion and 2SLGBTQIA+ pride worldwide, with continued revisions to create a more inclusive symbol of pride.

Graduates

Graduate degrees

NameDiploma Descr.
Lorena CaballeroBiological Sciences
Anthony HyattEducational Leadership in Higher Education/Community Colleges
Katie SealsProfessional Masters of Science in Climate Science and Solutions

Undergraduate degrees

NameDiploma Descr. 
Castel GreenEnglish, professional writing and rhetoric emphasis
Brittney GriegoCommunication Sciences & Disorders
Daisy HernandezCommunication Sciences & Disorders
Milo HoepnerBiology
Kiya JonesEnglish with a Comprehensive Emphasis
Alex LeePsychological Sciences & Criminology/Criminal Justice

Minor: Statistics
Irene PerezEcology and Evolutionary Biology

Undergraduate Certificate in Wildlife Ecology and Management
Mariah PierreHealth Science - Nutrition & Foods
Gwendlyn QueirozBiology
Minors: Psychology, Spanish
Leah Reyes ToledoNursing

Alumni Association

N.A.U. alumni pose for a photo.

Your Alumni Association connects you with alumni who share your interests and your love of NAU!

Stay connected

  • Update your contact information
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  • Engage with NAU alumni on social media
  • Read Pine magazine and alumni newsletters

Take action

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  • Share your news with other classmates: submit an alumni class note at foundationnau.org/class-notes
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  • Talk about NAU to friends, family, and future Lumberjacks
  • Make a gift—big or small—to impact student lives

 

Visit the Alumni Association