Each high school has their own traditions when it comes to graduation. The tradition of tossing graduation caps was believed to have begun with a military class throwing their caps after graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1912. Schools such as the Air Force Academy even began to allow children younger than age 12 to go and get the caps after they were thrown. Because of the confusion of hundreds of hats flying in the air, graduates would place a piece of masking tape inside their caps and write their names on it, so they would not lose their cap.
The clothing and robes graduates wear at the ceremonies were originally made to keep the students warm on cold days when they held ceremonies in churches. In high school, all the robes are the same, but may be different colors. This year, boys are wearing navy blue, while girls are wearing maroon robes.
During the graduation ceremony, graduates move their tassels from one side to the other. The moving of the tassel has no true origin, but has been a tradition in the graduation ceremony for decades.
The cords students wear during the ceremony have not been a tradition for as long as the previous traditions. Cords were originally used in Catholic and Anglican churches to help distinguish the levels of knowledge among clergy members in the churches. When this tradition jumped into an academic setting, cords were only used for students getting a masters degree or higher. Now, high school students may receive cords for being members of National Honor Society, STUGO, and numerous other clubs. Recipients of the IMPACT scholarship and others may also receive cords.
