Please read the MANDATORY requirements below. If you cannot fulfill the requirements, please contact Niobe Duke at [email protected] or 949.824.4475.
There are approximately 100 graduate spots available for this year's Black Graduation Celebration. All applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis, please apply early to secure your spot and your ticket allocation. The number of tickets allocated will be determined by the number of graduates participating and will range between 5-7 tickets per graduate. Ticket information will be sent out at a later date once you fulfill the requirements listed below.
NOTE: If a child or baby occupies a seat of their own, they will need a ticket. Children who are young enough (under the age of 2) to remain on an adult's lap for the duration of the event do not need a ticket.
Please fill out the mandatory Black Graduation Celebration Registration Form by clicking on the "Registration" Tab
Graduates who fail to fill out the registration form by the deadline will not be included in the ceremony.
*Please read and answer each question thoroughly. COMPLETED applications will be reviewed and accepted in the order they are received. You cannot save the application so you must fill out the entire application in one sitting.
All graduates will be required to arrive by 4:30pm for check-in and doors to the lobby will open at 6:00pm for family and friends to attend the reception and the theater doors open at 6:30pm. The celebration/procession will start promptly at 7:00pm!
APPLICATION DEADLINE is Friday, May 3, 2024 at 11:59pm
APPLICATION (helpful hint)
Biography/Thank you Message - Attendees will receive a virtual program with the graduates' photos and 'thank you' messages. Your message is intended to give you an opportunity to acknowledge family and love ones. Your message cannot exceed the 100-word count. We recommend writing your message beforehand and cutting and pasting into the application. Please note, any words exceeding the 100-word count will be omitted.
REQUIREMENTS:
There are approximately 100 graduate spots available for this year's Black Graduation Celebration. All applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis, please apply early to secure your spot and your ticket allocation. The number of tickets allocated will be determined by the number of graduates participating and will range between 5-7 tickets per graduate. Ticket information will be sent out at a later date once you fulfill the requirements listed below.
NOTE: If a child or baby occupies a seat of their own, they will need a ticket. Children who are young enough (under the age of 2) to remain on an adult's lap for the duration of the event do not need a ticket.
Please fill out the mandatory Black Graduation Celebration Registration Form by clicking on the "Registration" Tab
Graduates who fail to fill out the registration form by the deadline will not be included in the ceremony.
*Please read and answer each question thoroughly. COMPLETED applications will be reviewed and accepted in the order they are received. You cannot save the application so you must fill out the entire application in one sitting.
All graduates will be required to arrive by 4:30pm for check-in and doors to the lobby will open at 6:00pm for family and friends to attend the reception and the theater doors open at 6:30pm. The celebration/procession will start promptly at 7:00pm!
APPLICATION DEADLINE is Friday, May 3, 2024 at 11:59pm
APPLICATION (helpful hint)
Biography/Thank you Message - Attendees will receive a virtual program with the graduates' photos and 'thank you' messages. Your message is intended to give you an opportunity to acknowledge family and love ones. Your message cannot exceed the 100-word count. We recommend writing your message beforehand and cutting and pasting into the application. Please note, any words exceeding the 100-word count will be omitted.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Graduation must occur between Fall 2023 and Summer 2024 (Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Spring 2024 & Summer 2024)
- Completion of Black Graduation Celebration Registration Form
- Submission of a biography/thank you message via application (Further instructions are listed on application)
- Submission of a professional headshot via application (Further instructions are listed on application)
- [OPTIONAL] Submission of a 10-15 second shout-out/thank you message and pictures via a Google folder by May 3, 2024 @11:59pm. (Further instructions are listed on the application)
- Payment of application fee via Venmo ONLY by May 3, 2024 @11:59pm! (Further instructions are on application)
- Payment is $25 for Undergraduate and Graduate Students. NO refunds will be given under no circumstance unless you contact Niobe Duke with your specific case!
Biography/Thank you Message & Senior Photo Information
Attendees will receive a virtual program with the graduates' photos and 'thank you' messages. They will look something like the image below. Your message is intended to give you an opportunity to acknowledge family and love ones. Your message cannot exceed the 100-word count. We recommend writing your message beforehand and cutting and pasting into the application. Please note, any words exceeding the 100-word count will be omitted.
Your photo DOES NOT have to be a professional cap and gown photo. All we need is SOME TYPE OF HEADSHOT. Can be your Facebook profile photo, your favorite selfie, etc.). NOTE: If you do not provide a clear photo, your Biography/Thank you Message will appear like the example on the right.
Examples of Biography/Thank you Message:
Example 1:
As a first-year college graduate, I am so blessed and grateful for all the support that I have received from faculty, staff, and my family. I have grown so much in my time here and look forward to giving back to my community through social work and helping others which I have always known to be my purpose here on earth.
Example 2:
My name is Erica and was born in Tacoma, Washington. I will graduate with a degree in Sociology and a minor in African American Studies. I plan to work on bridging the education gap between underrepresented minorities and higher education institutions. During my four years at UC Irvine, I was involved in Black Student Union, 100 Black College Women, Black Leadership and Advancement Coalition Annual Scholarship Gala, and the Inspiring and Reassuring Individual Student Excellence prospective freshman program as well as the Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools. Thank you to all the people who I encountered during this journey-family, friend and foe-you made me better.
Example 3:
A young kid from Inglewood who believed she/he/they could.
Example 4:
Hello, my name is Niobe Duke and I am graduating with a degree in [insert degree]. I am thankful to [insert people] for believing in me and helping me on my journey. I will be working at [insert job] or attending [insert grad school] after graduation. Congrats class of 2022!
This will also be announced via our social media and posted on the Black Grad website.
Your photo DOES NOT have to be a professional cap and gown photo. All we need is SOME TYPE OF HEADSHOT. Can be your Facebook profile photo, your favorite selfie, etc.). NOTE: If you do not provide a clear photo, your Biography/Thank you Message will appear like the example on the right.
Examples of Biography/Thank you Message:
Example 1:
As a first-year college graduate, I am so blessed and grateful for all the support that I have received from faculty, staff, and my family. I have grown so much in my time here and look forward to giving back to my community through social work and helping others which I have always known to be my purpose here on earth.
Example 2:
My name is Erica and was born in Tacoma, Washington. I will graduate with a degree in Sociology and a minor in African American Studies. I plan to work on bridging the education gap between underrepresented minorities and higher education institutions. During my four years at UC Irvine, I was involved in Black Student Union, 100 Black College Women, Black Leadership and Advancement Coalition Annual Scholarship Gala, and the Inspiring and Reassuring Individual Student Excellence prospective freshman program as well as the Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools. Thank you to all the people who I encountered during this journey-family, friend and foe-you made me better.
Example 3:
A young kid from Inglewood who believed she/he/they could.
Example 4:
Hello, my name is Niobe Duke and I am graduating with a degree in [insert degree]. I am thankful to [insert people] for believing in me and helping me on my journey. I will be working at [insert job] or attending [insert grad school] after graduation. Congrats class of 2022!
This will also be announced via our social media and posted on the Black Grad website.
Example of image and message
Senior Video Information (optional)
At the beginning of the ceremony, a video presentation with the graduates' "shout out"/"thank you" messages and pictures of your college experiences/memories will be played for the attendees. [THIS IS OPTIONAL]
Make sure to upload the video to this google folder and label it with your First and Last name. Link to folder: https://tinyurl.com/5yva2upt. This is due by Friday, May 3, 2024 at 11:59pm
Click here if you need help uploading the video.
Your message is intended to give you the opportunity to give thanks to those of your choosing.
Please make sure you do not exceed 15 seconds and it is recorded horizontally on a phone or laptop. Anything over the allocated time or the wrong dimension/orientation will be CUT out and we are strictly enforcing this!
Examples of Thank You Blurb could include the following:
- Shout out/thank you to family and friends
- Reflection about UCI
- Favorite Quote
This is what will be created -- click video below or link to view 2023 Senior Slideshow (https://tinyurl.com/2vax3ymr)
This will also be announced via our social media and posted on the Black Grad website.
Make sure to upload the video to this google folder and label it with your First and Last name. Link to folder: https://tinyurl.com/5yva2upt. This is due by Friday, May 3, 2024 at 11:59pm
Click here if you need help uploading the video.
Your message is intended to give you the opportunity to give thanks to those of your choosing.
Please make sure you do not exceed 15 seconds and it is recorded horizontally on a phone or laptop. Anything over the allocated time or the wrong dimension/orientation will be CUT out and we are strictly enforcing this!
Examples of Thank You Blurb could include the following:
- Shout out/thank you to family and friends
- Reflection about UCI
- Favorite Quote
This is what will be created -- click video below or link to view 2023 Senior Slideshow (https://tinyurl.com/2vax3ymr)
This will also be announced via our social media and posted on the Black Grad website.
Registration Payment Information
1) Pay the full amount of $25 by Friday, May 3, 2024 at 11:59pm via Venmo (@Niobe-Duke) or the scan the QR code below
-make sure to include in the description the following:
1) Black Grad registration fee
2) First and Last name
3) student ID number
4) phone number
Once your payment is complete, you will receive a confirmation from Niobe Duke.
NO refunds will be given under no circumstance, unless you contact Niobe Duke with your specific case!
**If for any reason you are unable to complete the payment by the due date, contact us at least a week in advance of the payment deadline so we can set up a specialized payment plan. Contact Niobe Duke at [email protected].**
-make sure to include in the description the following:
1) Black Grad registration fee
2) First and Last name
3) student ID number
4) phone number
Once your payment is complete, you will receive a confirmation from Niobe Duke.
NO refunds will be given under no circumstance, unless you contact Niobe Duke with your specific case!
**If for any reason you are unable to complete the payment by the due date, contact us at least a week in advance of the payment deadline so we can set up a specialized payment plan. Contact Niobe Duke at [email protected].**
Requirements on the day of graduation
Special Accommodations for Black Grad
If you have family/friends that will need any special accommodations on the day of the ceremony, be sure to respond to this email with the accommodation needed as well as the name of the person for the accommodation so that my team and I are prepared to set those things up on the day of the ceremony! Must request accommodation by replying to this email by Sunday, May 12, 2024.
If you have family/friends that will need any special accommodations on the day of the ceremony, be sure to respond to this email with the accommodation needed as well as the name of the person for the accommodation so that my team and I are prepared to set those things up on the day of the ceremony! Must request accommodation by replying to this email by Sunday, May 12, 2024.
Name Cards for the ceremony
When it is time to walk across the stage, the MC will need to announce your name. Please make sure you are working on your index cards with your phonetic spelling. Below is an example of what to write on the card.
***please note if you have an easy name to pronounce you do not have to write it phonetically, but if you know people usually mess your name up even if it is simple, please write it out and bring to the ceremony. (Either way, write your name)
When it is time to walk across the stage, the MC will need to announce your name. Please make sure you are working on your index cards with your phonetic spelling. Below is an example of what to write on the card.
***please note if you have an easy name to pronounce you do not have to write it phonetically, but if you know people usually mess your name up even if it is simple, please write it out and bring to the ceremony. (Either way, write your name)
Fraternity and Sorority Stroll Information
If you are a member of a Fraternity or Sorority from the following: National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC-Divine 9), Inter-fraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic Association (PHA) or Multicultural Sorority & Fraternity Council (MSFC) on campus and would like to stroll at Black Graduation Celebration, you must indicate and submit a song of choice [clean version] as an MP3 or MP4 to Niobe Duke at [email protected] by Sunday, May 12, 2024.
Make sure to upload the video to this google folder and label it with your organization's name. Link to folder: https://tinyurl.com/mv3cnakp.
All graduates who are greek affiliated and want to stroll, will walk across the stage last, after all of the other graduates walked across.
***If you do not submit a song, you and your organization members will not be able to stroll at graduation.
If you are a member of a Fraternity or Sorority from the following: National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC-Divine 9), Inter-fraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic Association (PHA) or Multicultural Sorority & Fraternity Council (MSFC) on campus and would like to stroll at Black Graduation Celebration, you must indicate and submit a song of choice [clean version] as an MP3 or MP4 to Niobe Duke at [email protected] by Sunday, May 12, 2024.
Make sure to upload the video to this google folder and label it with your organization's name. Link to folder: https://tinyurl.com/mv3cnakp.
All graduates who are greek affiliated and want to stroll, will walk across the stage last, after all of the other graduates walked across.
***If you do not submit a song, you and your organization members will not be able to stroll at graduation.