2026 Lavender Congratulatory

(URBANA, IL) On Friday, May 15th, members of I-PAN’s Leadership Team attended The Gender & Sexuality Resource Center’s 20th Lavender Congratulatory ceremony, affectionately known as LavGrad. The evening before, the group hosted a social at Champaign’s newest gay bar, Amy’s Place, to connect with alumni and community members who may not be able to make the official event. This year, LavGrad was hosted at the Illini Union Ballroom, though the event may soon outgrow this space as there were over eighty graduates registered for this year’s event and the GSRC only expects for that number to continue to grow in future years.  The program included several student and staff awards for individuals and organizations that contribute to making the University of Illinois a safe and welcoming environment for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Graduates and their guests, including family and friends, heard from several speakers which included the keynote address from Dr. Leslie K. Morrow, former Director of the GSRC. In fact, this year’s ceremony was the first time that all three of the full-time, permanent Directors of the GSRC were gathered together. Including Dr. Morrow and the GSRC’s current Director, Dr. Yolanda Vivian Williams-Goliday, Curtis McKay was also present. Elvis Guzman, I-PAN Vice President shared remarks as part of the program. “We want this network to be a place where alumni can expand their professional and personal networks and build friendships across generations“, shared Guzman in his speech to the 2026 graduates and LavGrad attendees. Additionally, I-PAN provided small gifts to each new alumni upon receipt of their graduation cords and stoles. There was a bonus gift for any graduate who registered as a member of I-PAN during the event and we are happy to report that we successfully recruited forty-six new members! Last year, Guzman participated in LavGrad as the keynote speaker where he shared the idea and then working plan of I-PAN - a fully sanctioned official alumni group recognized by the university. Thus, it’s a full circle moment to see the group come to fruition and be an active participant in the campus community. For addtional photos, please peruse our Events Photos Album.

I-PAN Leadership Team: (L-R) Larry Cohen, Manuel Colón, Curtis McKay, and Elvis Guzman. 

"We want this network to be a place where alumni can expand their professional and personal networks and build friendship across generations"

-- Elvis Guzman, I-PAN Vice-President