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Lavender Celebration Class of 2025

Lavender Celebration Class of 2025

On Saturday, May 3, 2025, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and family gathered to celebrate our graduating LGBTQIAP+ students at the 2025 Lavender Celebration, hosted in Unity Hall by the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME). 

Lavender Celebration is an event that recognizes LGBTQIAP+ students of all races and ethnicities and acknowledges their achievements and contributions to WPI. Lavender is important to LGBTQ+ history. It is a combination of the pink triangle that gay men were forced to wear in concentration camps and the black triangle designating lesbians as political prisoners in Nazi Germany. The LGBTQ+ civil rights movement took these symbols of hatred and combined them to make symbols and color of pride and community.

During this year's celebration, the entire WPI community was invited to recognize over 50 graduating students. As a part of the event, the Student of Distinction Award, honoring students who have made a significant impact to the WPI community through programming, leadership, and/or advocacy for the LGBTQIAP+ campus community, was also awarded. The Student of Distinction for this year was awarded to Emiliano Sola '25.

The ceremony featured words of wisdom and speeches by President Grace Wang, Max Ketter '28, Executive Board Member of the Queer and Trans People of Color Coalition (QTPOCC), Quinn Sandberg ’25, Vice President of the Alliance, affiliate chapter of oSTEM, Lauren Feldman, Assistant Director for Gender Equity and Sexuality, and Zoe Reidinger, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering.

"Wherever you go next, go forward with pride, passion, and the kind of joy that can change everything."

-Lauren Feldman (they/she), Assistant Director for Gender Equity and Sexuality

Thank you to all who were able to attend the Lavender Celebration and support our Class of 2025 graduates! To the class of 2025, congratulations!

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President Grace Wang speaking at Lavender Celebration 2025.

President Grace Wang speaking at Lavender Celebration 2025.

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Max Ketter, QTPOCC Executive Board Member, speaking at Lavender Celebration 2025.

Max Ketter, QTPOCC Executive Board Member, speaking at Lavender Celebration 2025.

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Quinn Sandberg '25, Vice President of the Alliance, speaking at Lavender Celebration 2025.

Quinn Sandberg '25, Vice President of the Alliance, speaking at Lavender Celebration 2025.

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Lavender Celebration 2025

Lavender Celebration 2025

The Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) promotes and oversees student-facing learning experiences, programs, services, trainings, and initiatives for WPI.