General | 4/26/2022 1:38:00 PM

DENTON, Texas (April 25, 2022) – Every year, Texas Woman's University Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach hosts a Multicultural Graduation Celebration. 

During the 2022 celebration, nine TWU student-athletes participated in the Multicultural Graduation Celebration. 

According to the TWU website, "the Multicultural Graduation Celebration acknowledges the value and uniqueness of underrepresented student experiences and serves to commemorate and highlight the accomplishments of individuals within their familial and cultural context." 

The celebration offers four different ceremonies, which are listed and described below: 
 

• Multicultural Celebration: Multicultural Stole; Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian, Multiracial identities, etc.
• People of Nia Celebration: Kente Stole; African, African American, Black identities
• La Raza Celebration: Serape Stole; Hispanic, Latina/o, Latinx identities
• Lavender Celebration: Lavender Stoles; LGBTQIA identities

During each ceremony, the graduates are honored with their respective stoles. 

Bailey Heffernon, a soccer student-athlete, participated in the Lavender Celebration on Friday morning. 

"Having the opportunity to participate in the lavender ceremony was a really special moment for me," Heffernon said. "It is a privilege to go to a school that celebrates what makes each of us unique, and I feel so lucky to be a part of such an inclusive community and athletic department."

On Friday afternoon, five student-athletes participated in the People of Nia Celebration. 

Jada Freeman, a TWU basketball student-athlete, Trixie Oche, a TWU volleyball student-athlete, and Elizabeth Ugbaja, a TWU volleyball student-athlete, participated in the ceremony held at Hubbard Hall. 

Two softball student-athletes participated in a unique celebration due to conflicting game times. Rubi Diaz and Da'Jia Davis had a game during the graduation ceremony, so they received their Kente stoles on Dianne Baker Field prior to their game. 

"Participating in the Multicultural Graduation on the softball field m

eant a lot to me," Davis said. "I feel like the Multicultural Graduation allowed me, along with other minority athletes, to pave a way for the younger generations of minorities who decide to participate in sports on the collegiate level." 

During the La Raza Celebration on Saturday afternoon, three Pioneer athletes were celebrated. 

Isabel Goyco, a TWU gymnast, Joelene Rosas, a member of Pioneer Pride Dance Team, and Isabel Vega Calderon, a Pioneer volleyball athlete, all received Serape Stoles in celebration of their cultural heritage. 

"I am so thankful that I was chosen to participate in TWU's Multicultural Graduation, because as a Latina nothing has ever been handed to me," Rosas said. "I have worked hard to be successful, so to be acknowledged for my accomplishments as a Hispanic woman was a great honor that I wish to pass down to others. Race does not define success; we do as individuals. You just have to choose to be successful in everything you do."

These nine student-athletes will don their stoles during TWU Graduation in May 2022.