Office of Diversity, Equity, and InclusionCircle Celebration
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the College of Arts and Sciences, and a committee of supportive faculty and staff are proud to host our graduates at the 2024 Circle Celebration, Sunday, April 21, 2024. This affinity event is different from the official LTU commencement ceremony. It highlights academic and community achievement, honors individuals, families, and extended communities, and commemorates cultural, social, and traditional influences of celebration.
Celebrating our graduating students in this manner gives us the distinct opportunity to acknowledge the contributions and influences of intersecting communities to our campus. In addition to celebrating our graduates we will present the 2024 winners of the John Petty Community Champion Award and the Maria Vaz Beacon Award to our deserved honorees. We will also have speeches from our Dr. Oliver S. Coleman Student Achievement Award winner and a special guest speaker to be announced soon. Last and most importantly, we will gift each graduate with a special stole from the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, that they can proudly wear at the official University commencement ceremony, in May, if they choose.
Date: April 21, 2024, Sunday
Time: 3pm - 6pm | Atrium
Event Address:
Atrium of Buell Management Building (Building #5)
Lawrence Technological University
21000 West 10 Mile Rd. Southfield, MI 48075
Graduate Registration: https://forms.gle/YgTYvsqiukBMFJST8
Contacts: ODEI@LTU.EDU
If you're a member of the faculty or staff and you would like to send words of congratulations and appreciation to the graduates use the following link.
Faculty and Staff RSVP and words of encouragement: https://forms.gle/an4t26vUcUDLECU69
Volunteer at the Circle Celebration: https://forms.gle/8sGN8MwGJY1VRqTLA
Circle Celebration Host and Entertainment
Emcee: Mike Ellison
Mike Ellison was born to African-American parents living and working in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before the family relocated to Reston, Virginia where he was raised, Mike fully realized his calling as an Executive Artist in Detroit. Utilizing “edutainment” as a vehicle to promote progressive initiatives throughout the United States and his birth country-including orphan support programs and the construction of several healthcare clinics-he is noted for creating social impact productions that engage, inform and inspire communities.
Entertainment
Ray, our musical selector for the afternoon will keep the vibe electric. 
Amen-Ra Drummers
Chi Amen-Ra is a Kresge Arts Fellow and percussionist focusing on African diasporic rhythms. African culture has grounded the Detroit-born artist in a deep and creative interest in his heritage. But beyond the personal significance, the music of Africa has given Chi a powerful sense of the oneness of humanity.
Marwan Amen-Ra began stage performing at age 2 and lives music. Born into Detroit's Amen-Ra family, the family from which Detroit's West African performing arts community spawned in the 1970's, Marwan has enjoyed sharing his gifts on thousands of stages throughout Michigan, the US, and abroad; touring with artists like Stevie Wonder. and John Legend. He is the Founder of Detroit's first West African Marching band and he works tirelessly at raising society's value of Art's role in overall global balance and well-being.
Thowra Dabke Dance Troupe, out of southeast Michigan, is a community dance organization focused on making the dabke dance style more accessible to the community. Dabke is performed at joyous occasions and is a Levantine folk dance that combines circle dance and line dancing. 
Special Guests & Awards
Keynote Speaker: Beverly Hannah, AIA
Michigan architect, entrepreneur, and community leader, Beverly Hannah is President and CEO of HANNAH Architects, formerly Hannah & Associates, Inc. Committed to the transformation and growth of the City of Detroit, she has successfully operated the architectural firm for the past 31 years.
Beverly has 39 years of experience in the architectural planning, design, and construction industry, with skills ranging from project architect, project designer, project manager through project principal and owner of the corporation. She has built a successful practice based upon design excellence and sound business practices, while exploring opportunities for successful partnerships, and advancements intechnology.
A native Detroiter, and graduate of Henry Ford High School, Beverly began her college education as an engineering student at Michigan State University, but soon discovered a passion for architecture and design and transferred to Lawrence Institute of Technology (now Lawrence Technological University). There she earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree in 1985, a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1988, and a Master of Architecture degree in 2000. Her first job as an Architect was with the legendary firm of Albert Kahn Associates (AKA) where she excelled in multiple departments while establishing a strong design and technical foundation.
She earned her Michigan architectural license in 1991 and launched her firm in 1993 to provide architectural and interior design services. Notably, her firm is the first African American Woman Owned Architectural firm in the State of Michigan, and one of less than twenty architectural firms owned and operated by a licensed African American Female Architect in the United States.
In 2009, she was the recipient of LTU’s highest award for its graduates, the Alumni Achievement Award, and is the first African American in LTU’s history to receive this distinguished award.
In 2013, her firm formed a strategic partnership with Neumann/Smith Architecture, where she is the managing partner and majority owner of Hannah-Neumann/Smith which offers the creativity, expertise, and experience to help clients develop distinctive new buildings or re-purpose, restore, and modernize existing facilities.
Notable projects in Detroit include the Curtis L. Ivery Health & Wellness Educational Center at Wayne County Community College District, the newsroom and office renovation at WDIV-TV, the Shed at Valade Park for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, the Skillman Foundation Headquarter renovations, United Way for Southeastern Michigan Headquarter renovation, the Lear Innovation Center, the Wright-Kay Building renovation, Dave Bing Community Park at Hartford, and multiple projects with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Salvation Army of Michigan. The firm was recently awarded the Pistons Group Mixed Use Development Project as well as the North End Landing Development Project. The future is bright for HANNAH Architects with new partners, Jim Cummings (VP of Architecture) and Jaimelyn Neher (VP of Design).
She served on the Michigan Fire Safety Board as appointed by Governor Granholm and has served on the boards of numerous civic and business organizations, most recently being named to the Board of Trustees at her alma mater Lawrence Technological University in 2022. She is an Alumni of Leadership Detroit XIX, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business 2017, NMSDC Centers of Excellence 2021, and is a 30-year member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
She recently was honored by Crain’s Detroit as a Notable Women in Construction, Design & Architecture, and is a 2024 honoree of the Michigan Chronicle Women of Excellence.
Beverly is committed to exposing young students to non-traditional STEM fields through engagement and public speaking. “Education changes lives, and it’s my responsibility to expose students to careers in architecture, planning and design.” She believes that “Children cannot be what they cannot see.” so she uses every opportunity to expose them to her unique journey and the value of a technical education.
2023 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Inaugural celebration
2023 Circle Celebration Video - COMING SOON!
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Michelle Lollie
Dr. Michelle Lollie (she/her) is an Advanced Laser Scientist at Quantinuum, a full-stack quantum computing company. She earned a BA in Business Administration/Finance from Clark Atlanta University, a BS in Physics from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, an MS in Physics from Indiana University - Bloomington, and a Ph.D. in Physics from Louisiana State University. A career changer, she left the retail banking industry to pursue her passion for physics. She’s an advocate for under-represented persons in STEM fields and is dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts in physics. She resides in Colorado where she is growing as an amateur violinist and hiker.
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Awardees
Maria Vaz Beacon Award
Professor
Heidi Morano
John Petty Sr. Community Champion Award
Congresswoman
Brenda Lawrence
Dr. Oliver S. Coleman Student Achievement Award
Student Government President:
JaJuan Jones Jr.
This award was presented by alumnae
Alice Morse BSBA '88
FAQ - Your questions answered
Who should Register?
Alumni who graduated December 2023 or students who have petitioned and will graduate from LTU by August of 2024. Registration is required to participate in this celebration.
Deadlines:
Registration is mandatory for graduates only. Registration will close April 1, 2024.
Is there a fee for the graduate to register?
There is no fee to the graduate or the guests who want to attend this event.
Attire:
Wear smart casual or business/informal. (see this helpful dress code guide )
We ask graduates to not wear: graduation regalia (cap and gown), T-shirts, Jeans, joggers, gym shoes, etc.
There are no specific colors that you need to wear.
What will the graduate receive?
All registered graduates will receive a special stole, that can be worn at their LTU Commencement Ceremony.
What if I am not able to attend the Circle Celebration?
Circle Celebration registered graduates that are not able to attend can pick-up their stole from the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) in suite C404 after April 21, 2024, in the Taubman Student Services Center Building. Stoles can be retrieved, with LTU or governmental identification, Monday - Friday 9am - 3:30pm EST. Please email ODEI@LTU.EDU if other arrangements are needed.
How many guests are registrants allowed?
Although seating will be limited due to the size of the space, we welcome all who supported you on your journey to graduation to celebrate this major accomplishment with you.
Accommodations and Accessibility?
The Atrium is located in the Buell Management Building (building #5).
A sign-language interpreter will be available.
A space for individuals with Sensory Sensitivity as well as a space for restless children will be available.
Will there be refreshments?
There will be a short cupcake reception immediately following the celebration, to be located in the Blue Devil Cafe extension.
This celebration is intended to be a festive occasion celebrating the accomplishments of our students. However, it is also ceremonial. Graduates are expected to abide by the following guidelines:
- Graduates should remain in their seats during the entire ceremony unless utilizing the restrooms.
- Students are required to be in their seats for the address by our keynote speaker.
- Cell phones are permitted, but out of courtesy to other participants, attendees are asked to silence their phones and make judicious use of phones and not use them during the formal speaking portions of the ceremony.
- It is particularly important that graduates respect their fellow graduates and the faculty, administrators, and guests who have come to witness and participate in the graduation celebration. For this reason, graduates are expected to return to their seats after they walk and remain there until all graduates have walked and members of the celebration have exited the stage.
- A cupcake reception will follow the Circle Celebration. Please plan post-ceremony activities accordingly. Will there be refreshments?
There will be a short cupcake reception immediately following the celebration, to be located in the Blue Devil Cafe extension. Will there be refreshments?
There will be a short cupcake reception immediately following the celebration, to be located in the Blue Devil Cafe extension.