The Equity and Services Council (ESC) is an organization dedicated to ensuring fairness and inclusivity on campus. The ESC is
a cultural affinities group with many organizations under it. Each year some of these organizations participate in the ESC Graduation, events that celebrate and highlight the students that are a part of these communities.
This year the organizations holding these graduations are Filipino American Student Association (FASA), Black Student Union (BSU), Latinx Student Organization (LSO), Movimiento Estudiantil Chinana/o de Aztlan (MECHa) and the First Generation Students Organization (FGSO). These events hold significance to the students involved, it’s a way to honor their achievements here at CWU while also honoring their culture and where they’ve come from.
CWU FASA President, Ralph Ramier said, “The significance is to give graduates the opportunity to experience a more personal, cultural celebration,” he went on, “Kapwa is a value in Filipino culture in which all of us are interconnected. As Filipinos, we are all one. Fil-Grad is a demonstration of Kapwa because graduation is the culmination of an individual’s academic career, which most of us could not have reached without the help of others. During Fil-Grad, we are able to celebrate with our families, friends, mentors, and fellow Filipinos, our ‘kababayan’.”
Alexa Silva Cabrera, CWU LSO president said, “It’s a way to honor their accomplishments and celebrate their journey through higher education—a milestone that many in our community may not have the chance to achieve,” she continued, “Raíces Grad not only recognizes the students but also the supportive parents and loved ones who stood by them throughout their college years. We come together with music and traditional Latino cuisine, embracing the culture that defines us.”
Carbrera talked about the challenges that planning graduations like this can pose. “I won’t lie, it’s been pretty exhausting, especially since it’s my first time… but I’m excited to celebrate and show appreciation for our Latino seniors. I’m so proud of them, and they truly deserve every bit of recognition and celebration,” Silva Cabrera said.
CWU FASA vice president, Jaden Joy Rosabia, is the committee chair for this year’s upcoming Fil-Grad, “I can confidently say that preparing for Fil-Grad has been an exciting and honestly easy journey, which is made possible by the incredible team of students who have been working hard to make this ceremony special.”
ESC Graduation registration is now open. The deadline to register for the event you wish to participate in is Feb. 24 at 8 a.m. More information as well as the online link to register can be found on the ESC Instagram, @escatcwu, or by emailing Justin Santoli, the ESC advisor, at [email protected].
