The Black Excellence Celebratory is a pre-commencement celebration to honor African and African American students who through unbending determination have successfully completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from Oakland University. The Celebratory is representative of African and African American culture and heritage, encompasses or embodies the value of community and scholarship and concludes with a Kente Stole presentation. This is a Celebration for Graduates to be recognized for their accomplishments and will provide a charge to them for the future. Students are honored together form similar commendations and their families also get the opportunity to celebrate their hard work and commitment.

Participation in the 2025 OU Black Excellence Celebratory is open to all OU undergraduate and graduate students who earned their degree summer 2024, fall 2024, and who will earn their degree winter 2025, and summer 2025 (must apply by January 31 to participate).

Students must apply to graduate to participate in the Black Excellence Celebratory. For more information on applying to graduate, please visit oakland.edu/commencement.

2025 Event Details

Sunday, April 20, 2025
Oakland Center Ballrooms | Time TBA

The Kente

Kente is native to Ghana and was developed in the 17th century by the Ashanti people. It has its roots in a long tradition of African weaving, dating back to about 3000 B.C. Often reserved for royalty, the stole is a visual representation of history, philosophy, ethics, oral literature, religious beliefs, social values and political thoughts.