STOLES: A Celebration of Diversity and Achievement

STOLES are a type of graduation accessory that consist of a long, narrow piece of cloth worn over the shoulders and across the chest. They are usually made of satin, silk, or other fine fabrics, and can be embroidered, printed, or decorated with various symbols, colors, or patterns. They are worn by graduates to represent their academic honors, cultural heritage, or personal identity.To get more news about STOLES, you can visit higraduation.com official website.

STOLES have a long and varied history in different cultures and traditions. They originated from the ancient practice of wearing stoles or scarves as signs of dignity, authority, or respect. In Christianity, they were used as a liturgical vestment by clergy members to indicate their rank and role in the church12. In Europe, they were used as a ceremonial garment by royalty, nobility, and scholars to display their status and achievements. In America, they were adopted by colleges and universities in the 20th century to recognize the academic excellence and diversity of their graduates34.

STOLES have different meanings and designs depending on the criteria and standards set by each school or organization. Generally, they represent the following categories:

Academic Honors: These are awarded to graduates who have attained a high level of academic performance or have completed a challenging course of study. The colors and symbols of these stoles usually correspond to the colors and emblems of the school or the academic discipline. For example, gold stoles are often used for summa cum laude graduates, blue stoles for Phi Beta Kappa members, and purple stoles for engineering majors.
Cultural Heritage: These are awarded to graduates who want to celebrate their ethnic, racial, or national background or identity. The colors and symbols of these stoles usually reflect the flags, coats of arms, or traditional motifs of the countries or regions of origin. For example, red, green, and black stoles are used for African American graduates, red, white, and green stoles for Mexican American graduates, and red and white stoles for Native American graduates.
Personal Identity: These are awarded to graduates who want to express their personal values, beliefs, or affiliations. The colors and symbols of these stoles usually represent the causes, movements, or groups that the graduates support or belong to. For example, rainbow stoles are used for LGBTQ+ graduates and allies, pink stoles for breast cancer awareness advocates, and green stoles for environmental activists.