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During her senior year in 2012, Kalee Salazar (EnvSt, EthnSt’12) participated in the revived American Indian graduation in the backyard of the Koenig Alumni Center. It was co-hosted by the CU Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies (CNAIS) and Forever Buffs American Indian group leadership team. A local Native American drum group recognized them with an honor song, and each received a commemorative blanket. 

Every year since, the graduation has occurred. The group hopes to celebrate in person this spring. 

“When a Native Buff graduates, it is an accomplishment for the entire [Native American] community at CU,” said Salazar, who lives in Santa Fe and works for the state of New Mexico’s Indian Affairs Department. 

This May, five other Forever Buffs clubs, in partnership with the Alumni Association, also will host affinity graduations. Each group — Black, LatinX, American Indian, Veterans, Lavender and Silver Buffs Marching Band— will receive specialty graduation stoles to recognize their identities, and each ceremony will feature cultural traditions to celebrate the students’ achievements.
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Photo by ���񱦵� Alumni Association