UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Hosted by the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity (CSGD), a unit of Penn State Student Affairs, the 21st annual Lavender Graduation ceremony was held on April 22 in Heritage Hall. This annual celebration recognizes Penn State’s LGBTQ+ students and acknowledges their achievements and contributions to the University.
The ceremony includes recognition of scholarship awardees, campus awards, and significant supporters in the students’ lives. In recognition of their achievements, graduates receive a rainbow tassel, stole and graduation certificate.
The full slate of winners and their involvement is listed below. For descriptions and award criteria, visit the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity’s scholarship and awards webpage.
Barry H. Marshal Scholarship, the first LGBTQ+ focused scholarship ever endowed at Penn State and most likely the first in the Big Ten
- Sarabeth Bowmaster, bachelor of arts in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies; bachelor of arts in philosophy, expected graduation May 2023
Bowmaster has worked at the CSGD, leading the Student Voice Panels coordination and recruitment of new peer educators. As the Peer Education Student Staff member, a Students Teaching Students (STS) instructor, former orientation leader, executive board member of the Gender & Sexual Diversity in Schreyer, and a DEI Ad-Hoc within Lion Ambassadors, they have been able to dispel myths, offer definitions and concepts that are at the core of the missions of LGBTQ+ activism, and open safe spaces for dialogue in order to fight against homophobia and discrimination.
- Eli Hester, bachelor of arts in philosophy, expected graduation May 2025
Hester has been involved in advocacy and peer inclusion within the LGBTQ+ community through their work-study position at Penn State Altoona’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, personal volunteer and advocacy work, and inclusive and intersectional event planning. They presently work with on-campus groups such as Pride Alliance and the Student Diversity Committee and have encouraged involvement for several events on that campus such as an LGBTQ+ Day of Silence and the second annual Altoona Pride Parade.
Bruce R. Miller and Dean D. LaVigne Scholarship
- Adrian Castro, bachelor of fine arts in sound design, bachelor of arts in music technology, expected graduation 2024
Castro has demonstrated interest in the LGBTQ+ community at Penn State through Lion Pride, ALLY House, and other queer events held on campus. They are proud and vocal about their gender identity and sexuality and work to educate others about the real discrimination that comes with marginalized identities.
Henderson and Marshall Military Leadership Scholarship
- Madison Lippert, bachelor of arts in anthropological studies, minor in women’s studies, expected graduation 2023
Lippert has demonstrated interest and concern for the LGBTQ+ community through involvement in student leadership and student activism with the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, Lion’s Pride, and the Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPOC) organization while at Penn State Altoona and now on the University Park campus. They have been involved with the American Legion in years past and were a student leader in the organization that held the Altoona’s first annual Pride Parade.
LGBTA Alumni Interest Group Award
- Flora Oswald, bachelor of arts in psychology, bachelor of arts in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, expected graduation 2023
Oswald has held two volunteer positions at the CSGD in which they supported queer undergraduates as a peer mentor and a discussion leader as well as first-generation students through the First Gen program at Penn State. They have been asked to present at Triota events in the women’s studies department and have been honored with the 2021 Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center Research Award to Reduce Racism and Promote Antiracism.
Masel-McClin LGBTQA Scholarship
- Krystal Lueng, bachelor of science in computer science, bachelor of science in statistics, expected graduation in May 2023
Lueng serves as the resident assistant for ALLY House — the LGBTQ+ and gender-inclusive living community at Penn State — and the current treasurer and incoming president for Gender and Sexual Diversity in Schreyer. They are committed to being a resource to LGBTQ+ youth and working in centers around the country.
Richard La Mar Schlegel Scholarship
- Cole Engstrom-Bolstad, bachelor of arts in psychology, minor in sexuality and gender studies, expected graduation May 2022
Engstrom-Bolstad is employed at the CSGD, managing and leading the Closet Transit. They have been dedicated to learning about issues the LGBTQ+ community may face and what resources there are to combat them. They are the current president of Penn State’s Silver Circle and have worked to ensure that spiritual spaces are safe spaces for sexual- and gender-diverse students.
Allison F. Subasic Community Builder Scholarship
- Celeste Good, bachelor of arts in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, expected graduation December 2022
Currently the president and active member of the Queer and Trans People of Color (QTPOC) student group, Good has worked to bring change for queer students of color at University Park. In their work they have collaborated with Black Caucus, Asian and Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Caucus, Latino Caucus, Lions PRIDE, and the Caribbean Student Association discussing homophobia in these respective communities and how to combat it. They are active within both the Paul Robeson Cultural Center and the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity.
Community-based awards
Academic Achievement Award
- Mary Zaborskis, assistant professor of American studies and gender studies at Penn State Harrisburg
Zaborskis works at the intersections of queer, critical race, and childhood studies in twentieth century and contemporary American literature and culture.
“I work to provide colleagues and students with critical tools, theories, and entry points for recognizing how gender, sexuality, and race have historically operated and continue to structure our academic, political, social, and personal worlds,” Zaborskis said.
Her book project, “Queering Childhoods: Institutionalized Archives and Futures of Race, Indigeneity, and Disability,” explores how children’s genders and sexualities were managed in late-nineteenth and twentieth-century boarding schools for marginalized populations.
OUTstanding Service Award
- Sophie Kandler, graduate staff, Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity
Kandler has spent the last year as a member of the graduate student staff in CSGD. Since arriving at Penn State in 2019, she has volunteered her time and expertise teaching others about LGBTQ+ issues and realities in classrooms, board rooms, at protests, and in face-to-face encounters. She has served as a mentor to transgender undergraduates both with CSGD and independently, helping them along the extremely difficult road of transition. She has been at the core of both the peer education, faculty, and staff educational programs serving in an educator role.
- Dr. Yvonne Patterson, physician, University Health Services
Patterson is coming to the end of her Penn State service. She helped to develop and continues to lead the Gender Diverse Care Team at University Health Services (UHS) at University Park. She strives to educate, foster understanding, and create a welcoming space at UHS and elsewhere on campus. She builds bridges between the community and UHS to facilitate comprehensive care for students. She has been involved in numerous conferences on Gender Diverse Care, both as a presenter and attendee, where she continues to increase education and awareness on current gender diverse care health topics.
Dr. Susan R. Rankin Award
Celeste Good, Josh Bannon and Colton Lucas have all worked tirelessly during their time at Penn State to help the University become a more welcoming and inclusive place for all sexual- and gender-diverse students. All three are involved heavily with their respective student groups and caucuses. Celeste as president of QTPOC and APIDA Caucus, Josh as current president of Lion PRIDE, and Colton as past president of Lion Pride and in their role at The Daily Collegian.