What Do Graduation Medals Really Mean?

Graduation day celebrates achievements with pride and excitement through many meaningful traditions. The custom medal stands as one of the key symbols present during graduation ceremonies. But what do these medals really mean? Let’s explain this topic in a straightforward yet entertaining manner.
Graduation Medals Meaning: A Symbol of Hard Work and Pride
Graduation medals represent a celebration of your academic perseverance. Your graduation medallion honors your persistence whether you have completed middle school, high school, college or a graduate student program. This symbol stands for your commitment to achieve success as well as your future aspirations.
Graduation medals also show academic achievement. Educational institutions show appreciation for students who excel in academics or participate in extracurricular activities.
Academic Honors and Academic Excellence Explained
Students receive medals for reaching academic excellence standards or as recognition for academic honors. Latin Honors such as cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude are common terms you might hear about. The Latin terminology recognizes students who achieved excellent grades through maintaining a strong cumulative GPA.
Students affiliated with honor societies or honors colleges typically display special medals and graduation cords. Students receiving academic honors display their honor roll status or high academic standing with special recognition.

Graduation Medallions, Graduation Cords, and Other Regalia
The graduation ceremony showcases a variety of regalia items beyond just medals. Students typically wear their graduation medallions together with cords and gowns during graduation ceremonies and they might include a stole as part of their regalia.
Graduation regalia uses different colored cords and stoles to display student accomplishments. For example:
Gold cords often mean highest honors.
Royal blue might show excellence in leadership.
A forest green graduation stole denotes an educational emphasis on medicine or health sciences.
Graduates sometimes incorporate Kente Cloth or unique symbols which connect their culture or achievements with their school’s color palette into their regalia.
Honor Societies, Student Organizations, and Extracurricular Activities
Graduation cords and medals become attainable through your participation in honor societies and student organizations. Participants in Greek organizations, alongside members of school clubs and student athletes who excel often receive special cords or medals.
You earned these awards through your classroom participation and student life involvement.
The top academic performer at graduation receives both the Valedictorian Graduation Medal and special recognition for outstanding achievements.
The most prestigious award given during graduation ceremonies is earning a Valedictorian Medal. The top student of the graduating class receives the Valedictorian Graduation Medal based on academic excellence and grades.
Schools deliver awards to honors graduates who exhibit exceptional accomplishments in their academic program or demonstrate strong leadership abilities within their school club.
Bulk Orders, Customization Options, and Additional Information
Organizations and schools frequently order large quantities of graduation medallions and cords along with other graduation regalia. Schools can select from numerous customization choices to reflect their traditions which include options for personalized medals and engraved cords.
Verify both the sale price and unit price when you shop for graduation medals or cords. Some retailers offer credit card payment discounts and provide international shipping services for families located outside the United States.
Across the United States, graduation ceremonies feature diverse formats based on location. Graduate students tend to wear longer robes with special stripes during graduation ceremonies while undergraduate students often choose traditional graduation gowns and caps. Private schools frequently incorporate distinctive graduation medallions and traditions into their ceremonies.
The moment demands celebration regardless if you’ve completed college or finished high school.
Final Thoughts: Celebrate Your Graduation Journey with Pride
Graduation medals, cords, and stoles serve deeper meanings beyond their decorative function. Your graduation attire represents your academic achievements and the effort you put into your education. If you received a Valedictorian Graduation Medal, joined an honor society, or participated in student organizations you should proudly display your graduation attire.
Each medal you wear signifies that your dreams can become reality through hard work.
Jack Roddy
I love anything that involves a thrill! Some of my favorite after-work activities include skiing, surfing, kiteboarding, riding my motorcycle and fly fishing on the Deschutes river.