Registration has now closed for the 2026 Cultural Celebration and Pinning Ceremony. We have reached maximum capacity. If you were unable to register, we invite you to complete the WAITLIST registration form. If a student withdraws attendance at the ceremony, we will notify you and confirm your registration and participation. This list is a first-come, first-serve list where a registrant will be notified based on the date/time of completion. We thank you greatly for your patience.
The Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement and the First-Gen+ Center is proud to present our annual Cultural Celebration and Pinning Ceremony on Saturday, May 2nd at 5PM at the Mason Pond Venue Space!
Are you a Spring, Summer, or Fall 2026 graduate? We invite you to participate in the 2026 Cultural Celebration and Pinning Ceremony by registering for the event by Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 11:59pm.
Important Information
- Registration Link
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document
- Should you have any questions not addressed in the FAQ, please don’t hesitate to contact our email
We hope to see you there! We’re excited to celebrate you!!
Apply to be the Student Speaker!
The Center for Leadership and Intercultural Engagement (CLIE) and the First-Gen+ Center are looking for a passionate and inspiring undergraduate or graduate student speaker to share their Mason journey at our upcoming Cultural Graduation & Pinning Ceremony on Saturday, May 2nd at 5pm! This is an incredible opportunity to uplift and celebrate your fellow graduates by reflecting on your experiences, resilience, and achievements at Mason. Whether you choose to deliver a heartfelt speech, a powerful spoken word piece, or a creative poem, we want to hear your story! We can't wait to hear your voices!
- Link to Submit
- Deadline to Submit: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM
- Must be a 2026 Spring, Summer, or Fall graduate
- Must be REGISTERED for the Cultural Graduation & Pinning Ceremony
- Must ATTEND the Cultural Graduation & Pinning Ceremony
- Speech Duration: 3-6 minutes
- Speech Format: written statement, poem, or spoken word
The goal is to share and celebrate your “Mason story” in a way that honors both your individual journey and the collective spirit of our community. We invite you to reflect on your experiences at George Mason University, highlighting your growth, achievements, and involvement throughout your time on campus. We encourage you to:
- Celebrate your unique identity, cultural background, and the values, beliefs, languages, and traditions that have shaped your journey.
- Reflect on the people, communities, and experiences that have supported and influenced your success, including the significance of those who may take part in your stole presentation.
- Acknowledge your accomplishments and contributions while also recognizing the shared humanity and interconnectedness within the Mason community.
- Honor the diversity of experiences among your fellow graduates and the collective impact of your graduating class.
- Look ahead to your future while appreciating the cultural and personal foundations that will continue to guide you.
This celebration is an opportunity to intentionally recognize and uplift the many cultures and backgrounds that make up our graduating Mason students, while commemorating your achievements through the symbolic stole presentation.
We have a distinct committee of University Life partners who will be selecting the Student Speaker on a criteria/rubric. The selected Student Speaker will be notified of their selection in late-April.
Note: this timeline is anticipated and might shift depending on needs.
- March 20 - Application Opens
- April 1 at 11:59 PM – Application Closes
- April 2 to April 13 - Selection Committee review
- April 13 - Applicants are notified of decision
- April 14 to April 20: Selected Student Speaker will meet with selection committee
- April 27 to April 30: Selected Student Speaker attends dress rehearsal to practice speech at venue
- May 2 - Deliver speech at the 2026 Cultural Celebration and Pinning Ceremony