Photos, names of 2024 graduates honored at Donning of the Kente Ceremony

More than 30 graduates were honored at EMU’s ninth annual Donning of the Kente Ceremony at MainStage Theater on Saturday, May 4, 2024.

The cultural ceremony celebrates graduates who recognize their African and international roots. Each graduate receives a handwoven stole of Kente cloth, a symbol of prestige in many African societies, or a satin sash with flags from the countries they feel a connection with.   

Sashes bore the flags of countries including Indonesia, Brazil, Peru, Ethiopia, El Salvador, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cape Verde, Ghana, Mexico, Pakistan, Sudan and Colombia.

The ceremony recognizes and rewards achievement, encourages recipients to continue striving for excellence and provides an intimate end-of-the-year experience. Each recipient chose a family member, friend, mentor, administrator, faculty or staff member to place the stole or sash around their necks during the ceremony and speak about them. Those speakers shared joyful and heartfelt stories and words of praise about each graduate — at times bursting into laughter and, at others, holding back tears.

Graduates wore the stoles and sashes at Commencement on Sunday for inspiration and to honor, celebrate, connect and reflect on their collective heritage and communal struggles and successes.

Hosts of the ceremony were Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural student services, and Micah Shristi, director of international student services. The event featured a musical selection led by Dr. Ram Bhagat, founder of the Drums No Guns Foundation.

---

Watch a video recording of the ceremony here.

---

Participants

Noel Abeje, a computer science major from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, donned by Micah Shristi;

Andrea Acevedo, a liberal arts major from Harrisonburg, Virginia, donned by her mother Griselle Cardona and aunt Sandra Cardona;

Cindy Angela, of Philadelphia, who earned a master’s degree in transformational leadership, donned by spouse Andy Chandra;

Rebecca Arias, a political science major from Springfield, Virginia, donned by Angel Tejada;

Tatiana Ayala, a social work major from Stafford, Virginia, donned by friend Vanessa Gardiner;

Valentina Barahona, a digital media and communication and marketing major from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, donned by brother Diego Barahona;

Michael Betre, a computer science major from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, donned by friend Yishake Abate;

Ariel Morales Bonilla, a political science and history major from Richmond, Virginia, donned by Maria Esther Showalter, instructor and program director for language and literature;

Antonio Zua Companhia, of Beira, Mozambique, who earned a master’s degree in conflict transformation, donned by host sister Tabea Zimmermann;

Shashi De Silva, of Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka, who earned a master’s degree in conflict transformation, donned by Barry Hart;

Bethel Debebe, a biology major from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, donned by Micah Shristi;

Anna Dovbyk, of Kyiv, Ukraine, who earned a master’s degree in conflict transformation, donned by Dr. Gloria Rhodes, her academic adviser and professor;

Asmait Embaye, a psychology major from Bridgewater, Virginia, donned by Josh Bacon;

Riley Quezada, a music education major from Mount Jackson, Virginia, donned by Professor Benjamin Bergey, music;

Yolanda Emedi, of Des Moines, Iowa, who earned a master’s degree in conflict transformation, donned by Alena Yoder, academic program coordinator;

Vanessa Gardiner, an environmental science major from Springfield, donned by coach Bob Hepler;

Nutifafa Havi, a nursing major from Virginia Beach, Virginia, donned by sister Eyram Havi;

Luz Belen Hernandez Rosario, a biology major from Harrisonburg, donned by Professor Kristopher Schmidt, biology;

Amaya Hinds, of Salisbury, Maryland, who earned a master’s degree in premedicine, donned by mother Rashieda Farmer;

Ishaq Israr, of Pakistan, who earned a graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership, donned by Don Crawford;

Stella Dior Kayenga, of Harrisonburg, who earned a master’s degree in conflict transformation, donned by Angela (last name unavailable);

Saskia Bory Keeley*, of New York City, who earned a master’s degree in transformational leadership; 

Elham Khairi, of Richmond, who earned a master’s degree in restorative justice, donned by father Khairi and older brother Ehab Khairi;

Ishtiaq Khan, of Rockingham, Virginia, who earned a master’s degree in conflict transformation, donned by Dr. Gloria Rhodes;

Eyerusalam Korra*, of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, who earned a graduate certificate in restorative justice;

David Malual Wuor Kuany, of Juba, South Sudan, who earned a master’s degree in conflict transformation, donned by Practice Director Amy Knorr, CJP;

Desmone Logan, of Chesapeake, Virginia, who earned a master’s degree in biomedicine, donned by mother Desiree Logan;

Rubi Long, a social work major from Washington, D.C., donned by Professor Deanna Durham, social work and sociology;

Manuela Marin, a business administration major from Pereira, Colombia, donned by father Orlando Marin and grandmother Maria Barrero;

Hebron Mekuria, an engineering and computer science major from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, donned by sister Thummim Mekuria;

Sarah Moore, a psychology major from Weyers Cave, Virginia, donned by mother Tisha Moore;

Onyx Myanda, of Harrisonburg, who earned a master’s degree in conflict transformation, donned by David Nyiringabo;

Wimarshana Ranasinghe, of Narammala, Sri Lanka, who earned a master’s degree in conflict transformation, donned by Shashika De Silva;

Valerie Michelle Richards*, of Kyle, South Dakota, who earned a master’s degree in education;

Selena Sherzad, of Harrisonburg, who earned a master’s degree in conflict transformation, donned by Sediq Sherzad;

Ray Ray Taylor, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, who earned a master’s degree in biomedicine, donned by mother Sasha Taylor;

Zavion Foster Taylor, a computer science major from Newport News, Virginia, donned by grandfather Foster Douglas; and

Haweni Bezabih Meseret, a social work major from Bishoftu, Ethiopia, donned by Deanna Durham.

*These recipients were recognized in absentia.

The Donning of the Kente Ceremony is sponsored by Multicultural Student Services, International Student Services and the Black Student Alliance.