Kente Celebration honors upcoming SUNY Cortland graduates

Eighty-four SUNY Cortland students received Kente stoles reflecting an African tradition of accomplishment and passage during the university's 21-year-old Kente Celebration on April 1. These symbols of honor will be worn during Commencement ceremonies this May.

The Kente Celebration commemorates the rite of passage for scholars transitioning from institutions of higher learning to the next chapter of their lives. is an important experience for Cortland's multicultural students and their allies.

Kente cloth is a traditional African weaving with colors and design that hold a specific meaning. Over time it has become an important symbol for African Americans, people of color in general, and their supporters to highlight their achievements and connection to the first learning centers of the world in Africa.