Black Graduation

The Black Graduation Celebration is an annual event held in June to commemorate the many achievements of Stanford's graduating students with family and friends. In conjunction with the traditional commencement, it is meant to celebrate the long tradition of cultural awareness at Stanford.

Over the past 40+ years, this event has grown in attendance to more than 1,500 family, friends, faculty, staff and alumni. An integral part of the ceremony includes a family member joining their graduate on stage to place a Kente Cloth around their shoulders when their name and degree are called.

Significance of the Kente Ceremony: Kente Cloth originates from the Asante (Ashanti) people of Ghana in West Africa. The Kente Ceremony acknowledges that our achievement is made possible by the support of family, friends and loved ones. This "passing of the torch" recognizes the contributions and sacrifices of our ancestors on whose shoulders we continue to stand in pursuit of our goals.

2023 Black Graduation Photos!

Congratulations to our 2024 Graduates! 

2025 Black Graduation information coming winter 2025. 

Schedule of Events

Hotel Booking

2025 information coming late winter quarter. 

Transportation

2025 information coming late winter quarter.