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Donning of the Kente Ceremony and Kwanzaa Celebration
(Diversity)
The Donning of the Kente (DOK) is an annual Ceremony celebrating the graduation of students who recognize their African roots. The Donning of the Kente Ceremony utilizes the Ghanaian Kente cloth as a symbol of African American heritage in the adornment of the graduation robe. Family, colleagues, and friends gather to celebrate the graduating student. Coordinated by the Black Organizations Council (BOC), Virginia Tech was one of the first institutions in the state to celebrate Donning of the Kente beginning in 1995.
The 38th semi-annual Donning of the Kente Ceremony will take place on Monday, December 9, 2013 at 4:00 pm in the Old Dominion Ballroom, Squires Student Center. The Donning of the Kente Ceremony serves as a celebration of achievement for undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. candidates. The Black Organizations Council (BOC) designs this ceremony to provide graduates with a positive and rewarding experience which recognizes them for their hard work and dedication. Family and friends are a very important part of this recognition ceremony and are given an opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of their loved ones. Each graduate that participates in the ceremony will receive a Kente stole, which they are able to wear during the University's commencement ceremonies. Graduates should dress business casual. This year, the DOK Ceremony will be held immediately before the Black Student Alliance's (BSA) Annual Kwanzaa Celebration, which begins at 7:00 pm, also in Old Dominion Ballroom. Light refreshments will be served after the DOK Ceremony. A full dinner will be served during the Kwanzaa Celebration.
If you would like to attend the Donning of the Kente Ceremony and/or the annual Kwanzaa Celebration, an RSVP is required. Additionally, if you are a member of Virginia Tech's faculty, staff or administration and would like to dress in your academic regalia and participate in the DOK faculty/staff processional, you may indicate that in your response. Faculty, staff and administrators should visit https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1383673855502 to RSVP. The deadline to respond is Monday, December 2nd.
The Black Organizations Council hopes that you will add the Donning of the Kente Ceremony on December 9th to your graduation celebrations! If you have any questions regarding this Ceremony, please feel free to email Rudney Danquah (rod1192@vt.edu).
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