The challenges along the way, however, differ greatly from student to student.
To celebrate the achievement of students representing various races, ethnicities and genders, more schools and communities are holding multicultural graduation celebrations in addition to traditional commencement ceremonies.
Rock Valley College hosted its long-standing Sankofa celebration for its Black graduates this year, and for the first time held a special graduation ceremony for members of the college s Latinx community.
A Rockford education advocate will host his third annual All Black Graduation on June 19 at the Sinnissippi Music Shell.
And for its 12th in row year, Northern Illinois University joined more than 200 colleges and universities across the country this spring by hosting its Lavender Graduation Celebration, a special ceremony for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual or intersex.