Harambee Achievement Ceremony Frequently Asked Questions

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2021 Black Graduation Ceremony

2022 Black Graduation Ceremony

2023 Black Graduation Ceremony

Absolutely!  Harambee Achievement Ceremonyis not meant to take the place of your other commencement ceremonies.  We try our best to ensure that the Harambee Achievement Ceremony does not interfere with other ceremonies taking place during commencement weekend (like other identity-based ceremonies, college ceremonies, etc.).  

The Harambee Achievement Ceremony is a pre-commencement celebration to honor students who have successfully completed an undergraduate or graduate/professional degree from the University of California San Diego. The event recognizes their accomplishment and provides an opportunity for graduates to honor significant people who have helped them achieve their goal. Click HERE to register.

The Harambee Achievement Ceremony takes place every year during Finals Week of Spring Quarter.  The ceremony is typically held on the Friday evening of Finals Week with check-in starting in the afternoon.

The 2025 Harambee Achievement Ceremony will take place on Friday June 13, 2025 4PM PST at LionTree Arena. 

The ceremony starts at 4:00pm, but graduates will be asked to arrive earlier. More details will be provided regarding arrival time and will be shared at a later date. 

• Guests are instructed to enter the campus via Campus Point Drive to Voigt Dr.
• Event signage will be placed from Genesee Ave. and Campus Point Dr. directing Harambee Achievement Ceremony guests to the Hopkins Structure.
• Disabled cart service will be available from the Super Computer driveway to the elevator leading to the Lion Tree Arena.

The following items are restricted in venue:

• NO pets allowed: Service animals specifically trained to assist a person with a disability are welcome
• NO artificial noisemakers as in airhorns, bull horns, and portable speakers
• NO tabacco or vaping usage allowed or the appearance there of
• NO weapons, drug paraphernalia, or illegal substance 
• NO oversized bags or coolers. Bags can be no larger that 16"x8"x16". No backpacks allowed
• NO outside food or beverages other than personal resuable water bottles
• NO unauthorized video and/or audio recording devices, tripods, and self-sticks
• NO bottles or cans
• NO skates, skateboards, hoverboards, scooters, or roller skates
• NO drones or umbrellas
• NO laser pointers
• NO items that jeopordize the safety, viewing (i.e. balloons or posters), listening pleasure, or enjoyment of other guest deemed by the Event Management to be unsafe or prohibited

All Persons and items are subject to inspection and confiscation by the Event Management of the Venue, Security Staff and UC San Diego Police Department. If you have questions about the LionTree policy please ask to speak with an Event Manager on Duty.

All participants in the Harambee Achievement Ceremony will be presented with a Kente Stole during the ceremony. All graduates must pay a $20 refundable participation fee, which must be paid by the last registration date of Friday, May 2, 2025 @11:59 PM. Following the Harambee Achievement Ceremony participants will recieve a reimburesment of their $20 within a timeframe of 10 -14 business days. The deposit will not be refunded if the graduate does not attend the Harambee Achievement Ceremony ceremony. 

Typically, there aren't any limits on how many guests students can bring with them to the Harambee Achievement Ceremony.  When registering to attend, we will ask you how many guests you anticipate bringing so that we have an accurate count for the ceremony.

In order to participate in the Harambee Achievement Ceremony, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a registered undergraduate student OR a graduate/professional student
• You must fill out the registration form and place your deposity by the Friday, May 2, 2025 @ 11:59 PM.
• You must complete your degree requirements by the end of the Fall Quarter after the ceremony takes place.
  • For example, for the 2025 Harambee Achievement Ceremony, students must complete their degree requirements by the end of Fall Quarter 2025.
    • Note: Students who graduate in Fall have the option of participating in the ceremony the following year.

The Harambee Achievement Ceremony is open to students who will finish their degree requirements by the following Fall.  (For example, for the 2025 Harambee Achievement Ceremony., students who will finish their degree requirements in Summer Session 2025 are still eligible as well as students who will finish in Fall Quarter 2025. 

If you register for the ceremony and then later decide that you would rather participate in the ceremony the following year due to extending your time at UC San Diego, just let us know!

Registration is currently open for Harambee Achievement Ceremony. 

Please check out the BRC Website for additional information regarding the ceremony. https://brc.ucsd.edu/programs/graduation/index.html

You may also follow our IG @UCSDBRC for more information.

The BRC typically sends an email to students who are considered "eligible for graduation" once the registration opens up.  We will also have flyers posted on social media, our e-newsletter, as well as throughout the Black Resource Center.

Link to register:TBD

Link for deposit:TBD

Pictures for the Harambee Achievement Ceremony program/slideshow must be received by no later than Week 6 of Spring Quarter.  Students who have registered for Harambee Achievement Ceremony will be contacted during Spring Quarter for their pictures.

If you are ready to submit your picture, or would like to change the picture you initially submitted, please email your picture to our Facilities, Operations, & Events Coordinator.