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The assistant director for the Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education was surrounded by positive mentors growing up and now shares this gift with others.

This year’s “Floreciendo Juntos (Blooming Together)” theme centers on honoring identity, culture and well-being while bringing the Elon community together through art, music, food and shared traditions.

The HEED Award is a prestigious honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to academic excellence, belonging and community-building across all levels of campus life.

The series offers participants opportunities to examine the nation’s history, reflect on Elon’s own story and engage in collective healing.

The annual ¡Celebremos!: Graduates Take Flight celebration highlighted the families, mentors and communities that supported students who celebrate Latinx and Hispanic cultures, traditions and experiences throughout their Elon journeys.

The annual celebration recognized graduating seniors and members of the Asian and Pacific Islander community through student performances, awards and reflections on belonging, identity and shared growth.

Students were recognized for their contributions to leadership, service, scholarship and community impact during the annual celebration, which also introduced new awards and honored the legacy of Janice Ratliff.

From stepping outside her comfort zone to mentoring others, the senior business major reflects on how community and connections shaped her journey at Elon.

Drawn to a community-focused approach to preparing students for careers in medicine, the biochemistry major has found mentorship, research opportunities and a strong sense of belonging at Elon.

Centered on the theme “Distinctly in Bloom: Growing Together,” this year’s celebration invites the campus community to explore the breadth of Asian, Pacific Islander and South Asian cultures through programs hosted by the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE).