What is a Graduation Stole? Everything You Need To Know

After years of hard work and academic dedication, a graduation ceremony is a significant milestone in the lives of high school and college students. Typically, graduates associate caps and gowns with the commencement ceremony.

However, there is one piece of graduation apparel that stands out as a symbol of accomplishment and academic excellence: the graduation stole. This raises the question…

What Is a Graduation Stole?

Graduation stoles are worn around the neck and over the shoulders of the graduation gown to highlight a student’s extracurricular or academic achievements. During the graduation ceremony, valedictorians, salutatorians, and commencement speakers will wear graduation sashes.

Now that we understand what the graduation stole is, we will look deeper into everything there is to know about graduation sashes.

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How to Wear a Graduation Stole? Step By Step Guide

1. Position the Stole

Begin by holding the graduation stole with both of your hands. Orient your stole so the decorated or embroidered side is facing outward and the end of your stole hangs evenly.

2. Placing the Stole

Place your graduation stole around the back of your neck. Let both ends hang down evenly on both sides of your body.

3. Adjusting the Length

Make sure both ends of your graduation stole are equal in length. Your stole should hang evenly down the front of your graduation gown. Making slight adjustments to maintain the perfect length for your graduation stole is normal.

4. Securing the Stole in Place (optional)

If you’re going to be moving around a lot during your graduation day, then you may want to secure your graduation sash in place. You can use a clip or a small safety pin to secure your graduation stole.

5. Final Adjustments

Take a second to adjust your graduation stole to make sure that it sits neatly and comfortably on your shoulders. The graduation sash will add a touch of elegance to your graduation attire.

Can You Wear More Than One Stole At Graduation?

Although it’s not practical, students can wear more than one graduation sash. You can wear a graduation cord with a stole together as a graduate. In fact, you can wear multiple graduation cords along with a graduation sash. The amount of stoles you wear is a personal preference.

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Can I Wear My Own Stole At Graduation?

Yes, you can wear your own stole to graduation. However, specific graduation stoles can only be worn by students involved in organizations like sororities or fraternities. If you decide to wear your own stole, respecting other organizations’ traditions is important.

If you’re a college student looking for custom graduation stoles, plenty of great options are available online. Etsy has various customizable stoles which can be designed to your liking. You can input your name, the year you are graduating, and what high school/college you are graduating from.

What Is the Tradition of Graduation Stoles?

Graduation stoles have been used for centuries and have evolved over time. Initially, clergy members in religious ceremonies wore stoles as a symbol of rank or office.

Throughout the years, stoles transitioned into academic settings. The graduation sash symbolizes academic honors, achievements, and affiliations.

In recent times, the tradition of graduation sashes has varied depending on the culture and academic institution. However, the stole serves as a visual representation of a graduate’s accomplishments and membership in honor societies, organizations, or academic fields.

On a graduation stole, the colors and designs hold a specific meaning. Different schools and colleges use distinct colors to represent various honors or academic disciplines.

Wearing a graduation stole during the commencement ceremony is a proud moment for many students. Graduating takes years of dedication and hard work, so wearing the graduation gown, cap, and stole is a great honor.

Graduation day is a great moment for students to celebrate with their friends, family, faculty, and peers. The graduation stole adds a tinge of elegance to the ceremony and serves as a reminder of the academic journey.

What is The Difference Between An Honor Cord and Stole?

Although stoles and cords are often confused, they serve the same purpose. Graduation honor cords are designed to celebrate academic achievements and awards. On the other hand, stoles can be anything the student wants them to be, whether it’s to honor a student’s cultural identity, organization, or academic achievements.

What To Do With Graduation Stoles After Graduation?

Once you graduate, you can show off your graduation stoles and honor cords by creating a shadow box or purchasing a memorabilia display. Frame your graduation photo, honor cord, stole, and graduation cap to create a personalized display that can be hung on your wall.

This is the perfect keepsake to remind you of your accomplishments. Furthermore, it’ll be a great addition to any home office for years!

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Final Thoughts On What is a Graduation Stole

Whether you’re celebrating a high school graduation or a college graduation, knowing what a stole is is important. Wearing a graduation stole is a great way to represent your culture and fraternity or to celebrate an academic achievement.

In this post, I shared what is a graduation stole, how to put on a graduation stole, and where the tradition of graduation sashes originated from.