]Harvard Black Alumni Society Celebrates Graduates, Continues Community Legacy
Press Release Monday, May 26, 2025: Harvard Black Alumni Society Celebrates Graduates, Continues Community Legacy
For Immediate Release
Monday, May 26, 2025
For media inquiries, please contact:
HBAS
info@hbasonline.org
Harvard Black Alumni Society Celebrates Graduates, Continues Community Legacy
Cambridge, MA – Monday, May 26, 2025 – Tomorrow, the Harvard Black Alumni Society (HBAS) will support the 2025 Black Graduation Celebration, continuing a valued tradition that honors the accomplishments of Harvard's Black graduates across the University.
"This celebration recognizes years of hard work, persistence, and academic excellence," said Kelly Shapiro, President of the Harvard Black Alumni Society. "Our graduates deserve this moment to celebrate with family, friends, and a community that understands their journey."
The Black Graduation Celebration represents a ceremony and, for many graduates, particularly first-generation college students, this recognition acknowledges the obstacles they have overcome to reach this milestone.
"When students leave Harvard, they should know they are never alone," Shapiro noted. "HBAS functions as a social safety net ready to support our alumni throughout their lives. Whether facing career transitions, healthcare challenges, or simply seeking connection, this community will show up. Harvard is for life, and so is the support of your Black alumni community."
When HBAS learned four weeks ago that the society would need to help organize this year's celebration, the community responded immediately. In solidarity, HBAS alums raised $46,000 of its $50,000 goal, ensuring the celebration could proceed as planned.
"This rapid response from our alumni network demonstrates the strength and commitment of our community," said Alana Brown, University Relations Chair of the Harvard Black Alumni Society. "We want our graduates to know they are joining a network that will continue to support them long after they leave campus."
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ABOUT THE HARVARD BLACK ALUMNI SOCIETY
The Harvard Black Alumni Society serves as a forum for Black Harvard alums to convene, reconnect, and contribute to the development of current and future members, the Harvard community, and the Black community. HBAS enriches and enlightens its membership while embracing challenges and triumphs encountered post-Harvard. Through this organization, a strong and supportive society of Black Harvard Alumni perpetually exists to address pertinent issues and enhance the alum experience of each graduating class.