Donning of the Kente Ceremony honors graduates’ multicultural and international heritage

Tears were shed, laughs were shared, and hugs were held as 38 graduates were honored at EMU’s 10th annual Donning of the Kente Ceremony on Saturday, May 3, in the MainStage Theater.

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 to. 

Sashes bore the flags of countries including Afghanistan, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan, and Sudan.

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 neck 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 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. 

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Watch a recording of the ceremony here.

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The following graduates were recognized:

Yishake Abate, donned by Micah Shristi;

Ruth Abera, donned by Shannon Dycus;

Bethel Abiy, donned by Hellena Gebremedhin;

Elphas Andudu Adam Elnail, donned by Evans Adam Elnail;

Ariam Yonas Addisu, donned by Carlin Kreider;

Epherem Yoseph Amare, donned by Ephrata Amare;

Asmait Asgedom, donned by Deanna Durham;

Sha’Dymon Blanton, donned by Floria Hicks and Laurette Tucker;

Amber Bonds, donned by Jacqueline D. Bonds and Nathan L. Bonds;

Réka Bordás-Simon, donned by Gloria Rhodes;

Maru Dorothy Chepchirchir, donned by Valentine Jemutai;

Jailyn Diaz, donned by Martha Delgado and Julio Diaz;

Chidubem Ekoh, donned by Ndidi Ekoh;

Addi Fowler, donned by Jaqueline Fowler;

Karim-Ja’Quan Frazier, donned by Stacey Gibson;

Hellena Gebremedhin, donned by Rebecca Tezazu;

Denait Gebretsadik, donned by Tsegay Berhe, Marta Gebretsadik, and Saba Gebretsadik;

Emanuel Assegid Habte, donned by Hasset Dagnew;

Sulaiman Hashimi, donned by Jim Leaman;

Adesola Jessica Johnson, donned by Dayspring Johnson;

Erika Lopez, donned by Molly Ford;

ML Lormejuste, donned by Royale Parker;

Nicole Marie Mayorga Quintanilla, donned by Gerardo Mayorga and Lourdes Quintanilla;

Frehiwot Mekonnen, donned by Abraham Mekonnen;

Aneisha Emerlyn Moore, donned by Adesola Jessica Johnson;

Damon Morgan, donned by Sheila Morgan;

Cristal Narciso, donned by Mikaela Brooks Fauver;

Mikayla Pettus, donned by Celeste Thomas;

Cecilia Gabriela Rafael Castelan, donned by Susana Castelan and Norberto Rafael;  

Brii Redfearn, donned by Jonathan Swartz;

Marciella Vania Shallomita, donned by Brian Martin Burkholder;

Getachew GebreKiros Temare, donned by Gloria Rhodes;

Rebecca Tezazu, donned by Hellena Gebremedhin;

Riya Tingwa, donned by Karen Farias;

Chuck Tirtasaputra, donned by Melkysedek Tirtasaputra;

Rita Abden Saleh Toto, donned by Grace Toto;

Aixa Mariola Warren, donned by Judy Hiett; and

Fiker Yigzaw, donned by Timothy Seidel.

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

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View the photo album from the event.

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