Part of the Lumbee Indian Tribe, Dr. James Jones was the first American Indian to graduate from Wake Forest and the first to attend the University’s medical school. He and two others, Lonnie Revels and Lucretia Hicks, were honored for their pivotal roles in bringing greater awareness and inclusion of American Indian students.

Communication professor Alessandra Von Burg’s vision was born of the idea that everyone has stories to tell whether they are lifelong U.S. citizens or recent immigrants.

For its commitment to diversity and inclusion, Wake Forest has received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. In addition to diversity efforts related to gender, race and ethnicity, schools were evaluated on initiatives related to veterans, people with disabilities and members of the LGBT community.

The “Big Tent,” a public art project conceived by Wake Forest art professor David Finn, provided a safe space for students at Mt. Tabor High School to talk openly about ethnic and cultural differences.

Featuring music, dancing and fun, the World Cultural Festival is an annual campus event highlighting differences that unite, inspire and entertain the entire community. This year, the festival was held under the “Faces of Courage” banner — a University celebration of 50 years of integration.

Kevin Smith, a senior from Wilson, N.C., shares his experience with M4, a group that brings together male African-American students to talk about contemporary issues.

On April 27, 1962, trustees voted to end racial segregation at Wake Forest and the University became the first major private college in the South to integrate. Fifty years later, Wake Forest kicks off “Faces of Courage,” a yearlong celebration of the historic decision and how it has shaped the University.

The Latin American and Latino Studies Program and the Organization of Latin American Students are co-sponsoring Wake Forest’s first-ever Latino Awareness Week. Events cover the challenges and problems faced by the Latino community worldwide.

A Lion Dance performance, traditional foods, a fashion show and games were part of the 2012 Chinese New Year’s festival held on Feb. 4. Watch the video.