Registration open for the Rite of Sankofa spring graduation ceremony

University of Georgia Multicultural Services and Programs will host the Rite of Sankofa on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 6 p.m. in the Tate Student Center Grand Hall. Registration is currently open for the spring ceremony, and UGA students are encouraged to register early to secure a stole at a discounted rate. Click here to register.

The Rite of Sankofa is an African rite-of-passage graduation ceremony that takes place every May. It is a ceremony to showcase and highlight the accomplishments of African American, and African descendant, students. The word Sankofa is of West African origin and translates in English to “go back and take,” symbolizing the importance of learning from the past.

The ceremony is open to undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students. All graduates can invite individuals who hold a significant role in their life including family, friends and mentors. One of its most characterizing features and special moments is when the graduate’s family walks across the stage with their graduate.

Kydae Altirique Scott, psychology major and student leader in Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and the UGA National Pan-Hellenic Council, reflected that the ceremony is “a fully encapsulating and a melting pot of an experience.”

In addition to celebrating student’s accolades and involvement, there are also African drummers, student performers and refreshments. During the ceremony, MSP, the UGA Career Center, and the UGA Alumni Association connect graduates with post-graduation resources, such as the UGA Mentorship Program and the UGA Black Alumni Association.

As another reminder, registration is currently open for the spring ceremony, and UGA students are encouraged to register early to secure a stole at a discounted rate. Click here to register.

By Madison Imparato, Digital Marketing Assistant in Division of Student Affairs