Program celebrates increasing number of minorities earning bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees
Music, singing and poetry honoring cultures across the world will highlight tomorrow's multicultural graduation.
More than 450 minority students will be honored at the celebration, which is sponsored by the Department of Multicultural Programs and Services.
The program will also feature an invocation by Imam Omar Shahin of the Islamic Center of Tucson and a speech by University of Arizona alumnus Raul Aguirre.
Lynette Cook-Francis, associate dean of students and the director of the University of Arizona Multicultural Programs and Services, helped develop the program after seeing similar programs done in the spring.
"Each cultural center, such as the Chicano Hispano American Center and African American Student Affairs, does their own individual program in the spring," she said. "However, very few do them in the winter. We wanted to share all of these cultures with the university community, in something that celebrates all of our students at one event."
The mission of the Department of Multicultural Programs and Services is to increase the retention and graduation rates of under-represented and first-generation students.
"The numbers of graduates and retention rates has gone up yearly," Cook-Francis said, "For some groups more than others - but there is a definite upward trend."
This year's class is expected to include 327 Hispanics, 44 blacks, 78 Asian Pacific Islanders and 41 American Indian students.
Each student receives an honorary sash or has his or her name read by a UA faculty member or administrator. A presentation is also given, including photos and biographical information about each graduate.
The program also showcases the artistic traditions of the different cultures represented. For example, Navajo debut artist of the year Delphine Tsinajinne will perform "The Star-Spangled Banner," and the Floor Rocker Break-Dancers will also perform.
Francis explained that the ceremony was not only about graduation, but about culture and celebration.
"The key to this (event) is celebration - music, singing and poetry are all part of it," she said.
Tiefa Yarbrough, a business freshman, will read her original poem "Conscience" at tonight's ceremony. Yarbrough, also a student employee in the African American Student Affairs center, is excited at the chance to read during the ceremony.
"(The coordinators) had heard me read before, and they asked me to read there. I like to read my poetry, and it is a great feeling to be asked to participate," she said.
The Multicultural graduation ceremony will take place tonight from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Social Sciences Auditorium.
