MSU Black Celebratory

In 2001-2002 a group of African American students led by Michael Oden decided it was time to recognize and celebrate the achievements of other black students on campus. With the support of the Black Student Alliance, as well as black faculty and staff, they founded the African American Celebratory (AAC). In 2017 AAC became reinstated as a registered student organization under the supervision of Dr. Genyne Royal. In 2023, the organization renamed itself from African American Celebratory to Black Celebratory to represent inclusiveness of the full African diaspora represented by students across MSU.

Black Celebratory’s goals include community outreach and engagement to service learning. Black Celebratory salutes educational achievement and congratulates prospective graduates on academic success through the bi-annual Black Celebratory event informally known as "Black Grad."

Give to MSU Black Celebratory and help support our annual Black Celebratory ceremony honoring MSU Black graduates!

Black Celebratory is a ceremony focused on Michigan State University’s Black students’ accomplishment of successfully completing an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degree from MSU. Black Celebratory represents the culture of our students, support of our communities, and excellence in scholarship. Black Celebratory is a cultural rite of passage that acknowledges all prospective graduates. It is in no way a replacement ceremony to Michigan State’s yearly commencement. While sharing in the values of scholarship, community, integrity, and black excellence in all student experiences, Black Celebratory concludes each ceremony with a Kente-Stole accolade dedicated to the current class of graduates from MSU.

How your support makes a difference!

Gifts to this campaign will help MSU Black Celebratory cover costs associated with the bi-annual Black Grad celebration. This includes support for venue costs and providing funds to honor our graduates with a Kente-Stole accolade. Donations can also help support other Black Celebratory community outreach and service-learning initiatives and programs.

Make a difference today by supporting MSU Black Celebratory and help us celebrate our Spartan Black Grads!

Make a Gift by Mail:

University Advancement
Spartan Way
535 Chestnut Road, Room 300
East Lansing, MI 48824

*Make check payable to Michigan State University and write “Appeal 25OOPCF1GTBLCB” in the note section.

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