With more than 4,200 graduating students anticipating the conferral of their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, commencement is, simply stated, a tremendous ceremony.

Various student groups and ASUW commissions will personalize this yearly tradition in the coming weeks by hosting their own celebrations to recognize the achievements of their graduates.

“For us, it’s a way of celebrating [graduates’] accomplishments in a more intimate setting,” said Filipino American Student Association (FASA) President Derek Edamura. “Commencement [is] huge; it’s in a football stadium. You lose a little bit of that personal feeling.”

This year marked the 12th annual FASA Graduation, held Wednesday in the HUB Ballroom.

On June 10, the Q Center and ASUW’s Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Transgender Commission (GBLTC) will host Lavender Graduation, designed for the UW queer community and its allies.

Maggie Capwell, director of GBLTC, said she appreciates the close atmosphere provided by the occasion.

“With the more specific ceremonies, it’s a way to recognize specific communities and to give people a little more love and attention because they deserve it,” Capwell said.

Lavender Graduation is casual; students are invited to show up dressed in their cap and gown, formal wear, drag or whatever attire happens to suit them.

On June 12, the American Indian Student Commission will sponsor Raven’s Feast Graduation.

Julian Argel, assistant to the vice president of minority affairs and diversity, explained that the ceremony has been held for more than 30 years.

“There were probably about 10 native students who were graduating, and their families traveled from all around the country to attend their graduation,” Argel said. “They didn’t really have the money to be able to take their graduating students to dinner, so the Native American staff and faculty organized a potluck for the families.”

That small potluck has morphed into a “beautiful celebration,” Argel said, usually featuring 45 to 55 graduates often regaled in traditional dress and singing native songs. Salmon is donated and cooked in a pit outside in a traditional fashion.

“It’s something that’s special and cultural and gives the families an opportunity to acknowledge, in a traditional setting, the achievements of their sons and daughters,” Argel said.

Edamura described how the FASA Graduation is also like a celebration of family.

“FASA is so much of a family,” Edamura said. “[Graduates] have been such an important part of our organization that we just wanted to say thank you for them. We try to send them out in style.”

Reach reporter Rachel Solomon at news@dailyuw.com.