Culver City Graduates Celebrate Their Cultural Journeys

The Culver City Education Foundation congratulates Culver City High School’s recent Class of 2026! As part of the special graduating student recognitions, several student affinity group graduation celebrations provided students and families with meaningful opportunities to honor culture, identity, resilience, and achievement. These celebrations – including Kente, La Fuerza, AANHPI, and Lavender graduation events – are more than ceremonies. They are affirmations of community and student connection.

The Culver City Unified School District has long been recognized for its diversity and commitment to inclusion. The district has been named one of the most diverse school districts in California and Los Angeles County, with students representing a wide range of racial, cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This diversity is one of the district’s greatest strengths and part of what makes Culver City schools such a vibrant learning community.

Affinity graduation events give students a chance to celebrate not only academic accomplishment, but also the unique journeys that shaped them. For many seniors, these gatherings create space for families, traditions, music, language, and shared experiences that may not always be reflected in a larger commencement ceremony. Students often describe these events as deeply personal and empowering, creating an opportunity where they feel fully seen and valued by their peers, educators, and community.

Summer McBride, a CCHS parent volunteer who helps coordinate the Kente ceremony states, “Affinity graduations are important because they create space for students to feel celebrated and connected in their identity. They’re meant to be an affirming and culturally immersive experience honoring the unique journeys many students have navigated. Every student deserves to cross the stage knowing their community sees them, values them, and is proud of who they are and all they’ve overcome.”

Rosemary Quintaro adds, “These ceremonies often center cultural traditions, multilingual families, and community values that may not always be reflected in larger school-wide events. Our La Fuerza graduation celebration specifically uplifts first-generation students, multilingual families, cultural pride, perseverance, and the collective support systems that help students reach this milestone.”

Contributions to CCEF from our community to support these programs sends a powerful message: every student’s story matters. Research and experience consistently show that when students feel connected and represented in their school community, they are more likely to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. CCUSD’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion reflects this belief. By investing in affinity group graduation celebrations for the Class of 2026, the Culver City Education Foundation helps ensure that every graduate crosses the finish line with pride, dignity, and a strong sense of belonging.