As plans for graduation commence, some cultural centers offer an additional graduation ceremony that branches off from the traditional procession. La Casa, a Latino/Latina cultural center has planned a graduation ceremony that is focused around Latino culture. Jennifer DeLuna, program coordinator at La Casa, said the ceremony is intended to be an additional ceremony, open to all students that are interested.

DeLuna said the event is supposed to be an extension to big ceremonies, and it’s another ceremony that all students are welcome to attend.

“It gets a little rowdy because the families get really excited and involved,” said DeLuna.

Usually around 75 to 100 students are involved in the ceremony, and the formation of the procession is similar to a traditional graduation ceremony, except with a Latino emphasis.

“Students participate on a voluntary basis and the entire ceremony is focused on them,” said Veronica Kann, assistant director of La Casa. “It has a piece of their identity, so we want to have language and culture that is familiar to you.”

Students are responsible for the entire event. Student MC’s run the ceremony and are responsible for making sure the event goes smoothly.

For its 29th annual celebration, the “congratulatory ceremony” is just as conventional as the main University graduation ceremony, but its tradition focuses on culture, background and family.

“It’s important that we want to celebrate the success of the students,” Kann said. “But we also congratulate the families. We welcome their families in a traditional manner.”

“The biggest advantage (of the ceremony) is that it’s in Spanish and English,” said Daissy Dominguez, a senior in LAS who is also chair of the congratulatory committee which plans the ceremony. “A lot of families feel more at home when they can understand it better. I know my mom would prefer to have it in Spanish.”

Besides the bilingual aspect to the event, the ceremony begins with Latino music, like salsa, playing in the background as students walk in. Every year they have a keynote speaker, and this year Dominguez said that the keynote speaker is a Latino graduate student who will give a motivational speech for the graduates.

There will also be a presentation of awards for leadership, community service, academics, a faculty award and the traditional opening and closing remarks. Also, many faculty and staff members from Latino/Latina Studies are expected to attend.

Dominguez said that this congratulatory ceremony is very important for students affiliated with La Casa.

“I’ve been in the committee since sophomore year,” Dominguez said. “I have been involved with retention programs and academics, and ultimately, graduation. The event is rewarding.”

Although Dominguez has helped plan the congratulatory ceremony years before, she said the event will have a different meaning to her this year, now that she is also graduating.

“This place, it’s my home,” Dominguez said. “Being in this ceremony is very important to me.”