First presented by the LGBTQIA Resource Center in 2015, the Lavender Awards recognize individuals who have made Georgia Tech a safer and more inclusive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Each year, the LGBTQIA Resource Center presents four awards at the annual Lavender Graduation ceremony: The Billiee Pendleton Parker Award for Outstanding Allyship, The LGBTQIA Student Leadership Award, The LGBTQIA Faculty/Staff Leadership Award, and The LGBTQIA Alum of the Year Award.

Previous Lavender Award recipients demonstrated their commitment to the community through holding leadership roles in LGBTQIA organizations, volunteering for the Center, advocating for changes to policies and practices, or providing individual support to LGBTQIA students and employees.

"We created the Lavender Awards as a way to recognize and honor the incredible accomplishments of our LGBTQIA and ally community members," said Aby Parsons, director of the LGBTQIA Resource Center. "Numerous students, faculty, staff, and alumni volunteer their time, energy, and resources to make our campus more welcoming and inclusive, and we felt it was important to show everyone that this work really does take a village."

Lavender Award nominations will be accepted until February 17, 2017. For award criteria, eligibility, and the nomination form, visit www.lgbtqia.gatech.edu/lavender-awards.

Awards will be presented at Lavender Graduation on Thursday, April 13 at 6 p.m. in the Gordy Room of the Wardlaw Center. To register to attend Lavender Graduation, visit www.lgbtqia.gatech.edu/lavender-graduation.