UNC Asheville will honor its graduating students of color at the Biannual Donning of the Stoles Ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, May 11, in UNC Asheville’s Ramsey Library Glasshouse. Dee Dixon, award-winning publisher and Asheville native, will address the graduates. The event is free and open to the public.

The Donning of the Stoles Ceremony will honor more than 25 graduating seniors. The graduates will receive special stoles recognizing their cultural and racial heritage, which they will wear during the University’s Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 12.

During the ceremony, Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy will present Dixon with a key to the city.

Dixon, an African-American entrepreneur, created Pride Magazine in 2002. It has since become Charlotte’s leading African-American publication. She helps organize and run Charlotte’s Pride Sunset Jazz Series and Pride Awards Gala, which promotes diversity, cultural awareness and financial support for community organizations. Dixon was named Charlotte’s Businesswoman of the Year in 2006 and a 2005 “Women Who Lead” honoree. She recently developed “What Women of Color Want,” a series of events on career, business and market-driven issues relevant to minority women, and the Women’s Inter-Cultural Exchange, which helps build trust and relationships among women.

For more information, call Deirdre Wiggins, assistant director of UNC Asheville's Office of Multicultural Organizations and Events, at 828/232-5110.