Kente Ceremony
The 2022 Kente Ceremony is open to ALL graduating Seniors and graduate students who wish to participate, and who are graduating in May, August, or December 2022.
Our current plans is to have the ceremony IN PERSON on May 12th 2022. We will continue to monitor the situation with COVID-19 to make the best decisions for all involved. If you have any questions, please contact Geoffrey Griggs at Geoffrey_Griggs@baylor.edu.
The deadline for registration to be guaranteed in the commemorative book is April 1st, 2022 at 5pm. Only RSVPing does NOT guarantee you a stole, only those who attend and participate in the ceremony will be guaranteed a stole.
REGISTER NOW AT BAYLOR CONNECT!
Mission Statement
The Baylor University Kente Ceremony is an event which recognizes, acknowledges, emphasizes, and celebrates the educational achievement of Baylor University graduates. Our intent is to celebrate academic excellence of the graduates as they begin a bright, hopeful future, while simultaneously affirming the role of graduates in the future growth of Baylor University.
Purpose/Statement of Celebration
Our purpose is to share and celebrate a heritage rich in tradition with the Baylor community. Historically on other campuses, this event is directly identified with the African American student population, but on our campus we celebrate diversity and traditions embedded in academic excellence for all of our students. We invite family and friends to share in this ceremony. An invited minister delivers words of encouragement and expectations to the graduating class. Classmates share their experiences while at Baylor, special performances by current students follow, and finally, each graduate receives a Baylor Kente Cloth to be worn at their graduation ceremony.
This celebration is an opportunity to demonstrate the pride in the intersection of a history deeply rooted in Christianity and our hope for future graduates of Baylor University. Students are encouraged to remember those who came before, students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds who have made their mark on the Baylor campus and completed their academic journeys in their respective disciplines. During the Kente Ceremony we celebrate their individual accomplishments, as well as the accomplishments of the entire graduating class, as they move toward the mission of worldwide leadership and service.
Our ultimate goal through this event is to leave a legacy of empowerment. We charge all graduates to move ahead with perseverance, challenging students to overcome situational circumstances, obstacles, or adversities which may rise up before them. Finally, we encourage all graduating students to continue to pursue their goals and while also maintaining their involvement and support for their Alma mater. Once a Bear, always a Bear!
Click on the links to learn more about the history of the Kente Ceremony, as well as the significance of the symbols and colors associated with the Kente Cloth.
For more information on the Kente Ceremony please contact Geoffrey Griggs.