The Donning of the Kente Pre-Graduation Ceremony is an annual event that celebrates the achievements of our Black students and serves as a powerful symbol of their journey to a Brooklyn College degree. Executing this event involves students at all stages of matriculation and also welcomes alumni and family members to actively participate in ushering graduates into a new chapter of their lives. In this way, the Donning of the Kente ceremony fosters a sense of unity and belonging that supports ongoing efforts in enrollment and admissions as well as recruitment and retention and sends the message that Brooklyn College is an academic environment where Black students thrive, graduate, and move forward into a future filled with boundless possibilities for success.

Fundraising 

Support our Black students by donating $25 or more to our annual Donning of the Kente Ceremony. This is truly a special event that celebrates the achievements and perseverance of our Black graduates as they cross the stage and don the Kente cloth, symbolizing their cultural pride, academic excellence, and resilience. Our goal is to raise $5,000 to ensure the success of the Donning of the Kente Ceremony and provide a memorable experience for our Black graduates. Your donation directly impacts the success of this ceremony, from the Kente cloths themselves to the event logistics, and will help ensure that this powerful tradition continues and that our Black students are celebrated in a meaningful way. Please donate and share widely through our donation link.

2027

The 2027 Donning of the Kente Pre-Graduation Ceremony will take place Friday, May 7, 2027 at Brooklyn College.

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PAST CEREMONIES 

2026 Ceremony: Building Community

The 2026 Donning of the Kente Pre-Graduation Ceremony took place on Friday, May 1, 2026, at the Claire Tow Theater in Whitman Hall at Brooklyn College, celebrating more than 120 students who proudly walked across the stage.

Read the Brooklyn College Vanguard’s coverage of the 2026 Donning of the Kente Ceremony here: “Turning the Tassel: Graduates from all cultures attend the Donning of the Kente Ceremony”

 

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2025 Ceremony

The 2025 Donning of the Kente Pre-Graduation Ceremony took place on Friday May 2nd, 2025 at the Claire Tow Theatre in Whitman Hall at Brooklyn College.

 

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2024 Ceremony: Woven Tapestry

We recognize and celebrate the achievement, diversity, and vibrancy of our Black students, hailing not just from the United States, but from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and other spaces, representing the multiplicity of the African diaspora. Together, we represent an intricate tapestry, woven together and connected with threads and wefts that speak to our shared histories and destinies. We celebrate community in an evolving culture in which we recognize self in others and find commonality.

 

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2023 Ceremony