Multicultural Center Celebrations
Graduate Recognition
Celebration of Excellence
The Multicultural Center hosts annual congratulatory events to celebrate graduating students. The annual celebrations acknowledge the accomplishments of students to persist and celebrate identity, belonging, and culture. During the congratulatory celebrations, students are presented with graduation cords to wear at the University's Commencement exercises. These celebrations of our graduates have been hosted on our campus to honor the significance of this achievement to students and families. All graduating students are welcome to participate.
For more information about the Celebration of Excellence Ceremony, please contact mc2@bsu.edu.
Achievement Awards
Ball State Multicultural Center’s Annual Achievement Award recognizes the exceptional work within the university to promote and celebrate cultural diversity and multiculturalism.
Click the link below to submit an award nomination:
Nominations for Spring 2026 Have Ended
Award Descriptions
This award recognizes an undergraduate or graduate residence hall staff member who has exhibited true initiative and direction in promoting the areas of cultural diversity and multiculturalism.
This respective staff member has not only promoted cultural diversity and multiculturalism but has held events and actively pushed the concept of culture and equality. This person has also encouraged other leaders on campus who promote cultural diversity and multiculturalism.
This award recognizes a student who has exhibited consistent growth and development as a leader, active involvement in a variety of campus and community organizations, and the ability to work well with others, over multiple years.
This award is presented to a student who promotes cross-cultural awareness among all people; who strives to transcend all cultural and racial boundaries and; who best demonstrates tolerance and acceptance of cultural diversity as expressed by the mission of the Multicultural Center to support and advance the University's commitment to cultural diversity.
This award is intended to recognize a full-time faculty or professional staff member who exemplifies the spirit of Dr. Foster’s many years of dedication and service to Ball State students.
The chosen faculty/staff member will have supported the mission of the Multicultural Center with their time, knowledge, and support.
This award is presented to a current first-year student who has been actively involved on campus and is a rising leader who is making a positive impact at Ball State University.
This award is named after Jessie Nixon who was the first African American student to graduate from Ball State University in 1925. Today the Jessie Nixon award presented to a graduating senior student who has broken barriers and made a positive lasting impact at Ball State University.
This award is presented annually to a student who consistently strives for, and attains, excellence in and out of the classroom, despite the presence of tremendous obstacles (educational, personal, financial, physical, etc.).
This award is given to recognize a full-time faculty/professional staff member who has gone beyond the call of duty to assist the Multicultural Center in developing students over the past year.
This award is presented to a student who has shown self-initiated service in a variety of agencies and has a consistent history of service to others within the Ball State and/or Muncie communities.
This award recognizes a non-faculty member who consistently has supported the Multicultural Center’s mission in a variety of ways in the last year.
This award is presented to a student, group of students, or student organization(s) for implementing a multicultural program that stood above the rest.