Awards and Graduation Ceremony

The Awards and Graduation Ceremony celebrates the achievements of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender and Ally campus community at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This event recognizes graduating LGBT undergraduate seniors and graduate students for their successful completion of a degree program. It also provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate the contributions of the LGBT campus community by recognizing nominated individuals with the following awards. Faculty/Staff Leadership; Ally; Emerging Leader; Bridge Building; Catalyst; Outstanding Student Organization; and LGBT Research.

LGBT Awards and Descriptions

• Faculty/Staff Leadership Award
  This award recognizes a UIUC faculty or staff member of the LGBT campus community who is not a full-time, paid staff member of the Office of LGBT Resources, but advances understanding and the desire to improve the climate for the LGBT campus community.
• Ally Award
  This award recognizes a UIUC faculty, staff, or student who provides support and progresses the LGBT campus community. (Ally is defined as someone who advocates, serves on committees, mentors and/or provides ally development for the benefit of the LGBT campus community.)
• Emerging Leader Award
  This award recognizes a UIUC graduate or undergraduate member of the LGBT campus community who has great potential to be a key leader in the LGBT community.
• Bridge Building Award
  This award recognizes a UIUC student, staff, or faculty member of the LGBT campus community who works to build bridges between marginalized communities and/or draws connections among various kinds of oppression.
• Catalyst Award
  This award recognizes a UIUC student, staff, or faculty member of the LGBT campus community who provides impetus for change by promoting social justice.
• Outstanding Student Organization Award
  This award recognizes a UIUC graduate or undergraduate registered student organization that has consistently made a meaningful contribution to the LGBT campus community.
• LGBT Research Award
  This award recognizes an outstanding published or unpublished paper presenting research that promotes the understanding of issues relevant to the LGBT community. Recipients may be nominated from the following: undergraduate; graduate; and faculty/staff. Each category will be evaluated by a jury of the nominee's peers. All efforts will be taken to ensure a double blind process. Submissions must be submitted electronically to kkempdel@uiuc.edu. The committee reserves the right to withhold an award in any category, any given year.
• Unsung Advocate Award
  This award recognizes a University of Illinois student, faculty, or staff member who makes outstanding contributions to the LGBT campus and broader communities without holding an elected office within an organization.
• Distinguished Service Award
  This award recognizes an individual or individuals who make a significant, sustained contribution to the LGBT campus and broader communities.

Previous LGBT Award Winners

• 2006: View the list of award recipients and graduating seniors

LGBTA Graduates

All undergraduate and graduate students graduating in December 2006 or May 2007, are eligible to participate in the procession. LGBTA graduating seniors or graduate students who want to receive a certificate of achievement and a rainbow tassel, send an e-mail to kkempdel@uiuc.edu including the following information:

• your name as you would like it to appear on a certificate,
• the name of your college and major,
• and the type of degree you will be receiving (B.A., B.S., MA, Juris Doc, etc).

The program will feature a slide show featuring highlights from the past year, a keynote speech by alumnus Michael Hughes, and the bestowing of awards for LGBTA undergraduates, staff and faculty. There will also be a procession of graduating LGBTA seniors, followed by a reception with light refreshments.