RIT to hold inaugural Latinx graduation

RIT will host its first Latinx graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 5, at 1 p.m. in the SHED. The event is a chance to honor and celebrate graduating Latinx students and is organized by RIT’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).

“The celebration itself is really about recognizing the support of families and the challenges they’ve overcome,” said event chair Nayely Gonzales, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student. “We want to make sure that everyone feels included. It’s going to be wonderful to see our RIT Latin presence.”

The ceremony will take place in the SHED’s Glass Box Theater followed by food, dancing, and performances in the atrium. The event will be bilingual, making it more welcoming to guests who aren’t as comfortable with the English language.

SHPE president Carola Vasquez, a mechanical engineering graduate student, recognizes how difficult it can be as a Hispanic woman in a STEM field, and feels as if she always has to prove herself and proves that she belongs.

“I tend to overlook and underestimate my achievement and my potential,” said Vasquez. “Having this Latinx graduation and knowing I have a lot of people who support me and believe in me, it feels really great.”

SHPE has a Linktree site for more information and ways to get involved with the inaugural Latinx graduation, including how to donate to help the event grow in future years. Both Gonzales and Vasquez were thankful for the dedication of the event committee and the support from around campus.

“It’s wonderful to see students take the steps to honor their peers for their accomplishments in terms of pursuing and completing a degree at RIT,” said Keith Jenkins, vice president and associate provost for Diversity and Inclusion. “It’s very special to have students recognize each other.”