A Guide To Graduation

Photo credit: http://www.greenville.edu/dotAsset/e8967d64-f45e-45a8-a0ce-8291009d66a6.jpg

 

Written by Jessie Polley.  Media by Shannon Geary.

Have you ever sat through a graduation ceremony here at Greenville College (or any college for that matter) and wondered what the color hoods the professors wear mean? Maybe what all the honor chords the graduates wear mean? There are other questions I’m sure you have, and I am hear to help you navigate a few of these.

hoods

According to the Anderson University graduation program, the coloring of the hoods represents the type of degree earned as well as the school the professor received it from. The interior lining color is the color of the institution the degree was received from. While the trim is color represents the degree they received (like master’s in … or doctor in …).

cords

Well, I know that the red and black chords symbolize the Communication Department’s honor society (Lambda Pi Eta). Other department honor societies have their own colors. The Orange and Black ones (here at Greenville) represent high honors. Most schools give out their colors for high honors. High honors would be Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude. These honors depend on overall GPA.

icy

This is a deep tradition here at Greenville College. It symbolizes the graduates severing their ties with the college. This is where our paths part way, not just with the college, but with our friends as well. Yes, some may go together somewhere, but it symbolizes one journey being over and another beginning. Couples are allowed to keep their ivy together, since they will be carrying on life together.

baccalaureate

Well, the easiest way to describe it is it’s a church service for the graduates. Merriam Webster online dictionary defines it as “a sermon to a graduation class.” About.com says it is a “centuries-old religious graduation traditon that started in England, but in the United States …” it is a “non-denominational ceremony held a few days before graduation.” Most of these services are held smaller locations other than where graduation is being held.

There you have it, my guide to graduation here at GC. I hope this helps you navigate the ceremony a little bit better, and maybe spring-boards your interest into doing more research yourself.

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