Social:Honor medal
An honor medal is a medal worn around the neck during commencement ceremonies to signify academic distinction or membership in an honor society.[1][2] Unlike the cap and gown worn by all graduates, honor medals are worn only by students who have achieved specific academic benchmarks, completed an honors program, or hold membership in a recognised honor society.[3][4] The medal typically hangs from a ribbon or cord in colors representing the institution or honor society, resting visibly over the graduation gown.[5][6] Honor medals are part of the broader tradition of academic regalia, which in the United States was standardized through the Intercollegiate Code of Academic Costume adopted in 1895.[7][8]
Types
At the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, students graduating with "Distinction," "High Distinction," and "Highest Distinction" wear medallions, as do members of approved national academic honorary societies; special regalia is limited to cords, ribbons, or medallions rather than sashes or stoles.[9] At Liberty University, honor medallions are awarded specifically to eligible graduate and doctoral level students, while undergraduates receive honor cords.[10] At Rogers State University, honor medals are reserved for undergraduates who are part of an honors program or a recognized honor society.[11]
The University of Richmond lists specific medallions worn at commencement by members of named honor societies, including the Phi Beta Kappa Key on a blue and pink ribbon, a bronze Phi Beta Delta medallion on a red and yellow ribbon, a Mortar Board gold and black medallion on a white ribbon, and the Sigma Tau Delta (English honor society) medallion hung on a red ribbon and inscribed with the society's motto and founding date of 1924.[12]
Relationship to honor cords
Honor medals serve a similar function to honor cords, and are sometimes awarded in place of cords.[13][14] Kansas State University notes that if a medallion is available through a national honor society's chapter, it may be selected as an adornment option in place of, or alongside, a cord.[15]
See also
- Association of College Honor Societies
- Honor Society Caucus
- Honor cords
- Graduation pin
References
- ↑ "Policy on Academic Regalia". University of Nebraska–Lincoln. https://commencement.unl.edu/policy-academic-regalia/.
- ↑ YU (2025-10-14). "Understanding Graduation Honor Medallions: A Complete Guide to Celebrating Academic Achievement" (in en-US). https://www.hesank.com/blog/understanding-graduation-honor-medallions-a-complete-guide-to-celebrating-academic-achievement/.
- ↑ "Commencement Regalia & Attire". Lewis & Clark College. https://college.lclark.edu/commencement/commencement-regalia-attire/.
- ↑ "Graduation Medallions" (in en). https://www.graduationsource.com/graduation-accessories/medals.html.
- ↑ "History of Regalia". University of South Carolina Aiken. https://www.usca.edu/commencement/history-of-regalia/.
- ↑ "Honor Award Medal". https://www.tasseldepot.com/award-medal-honor.html.
- ↑ "Regalia Tradition & Symbolism". Rogers State University. https://www.rsu.edu/academics/commencement/regalia-tradition-symbolism/.
- ↑ Beek, Brynn Van (2022-06-23). "What Is a Graduation Honor Medallion?" (in en-US). https://www.diplomaframe.com/chc-blog/what-is-a-graduation-honor-medallion/.
- ↑ "Policy on Academic Regalia". University of Nebraska–Lincoln. https://commencement.unl.edu/policy-academic-regalia/.
- ↑ "Commencement Regalia". Liberty University. https://www.liberty.edu/commencement/regalia/.
- ↑ "Regalia Tradition & Symbolism". Rogers State University. https://www.rsu.edu/academics/commencement/regalia-tradition-symbolism/.
- ↑ "Distinctive Honors". University of Richmond. https://commencement.richmond.edu/graduating-students/undergraduate/regalia/distinctive-honors.html.
- ↑ "Regalia Tradition & Symbolism". Rogers State University. https://www.rsu.edu/academics/commencement/regalia-tradition-symbolism/.
- ↑ "Academic Dress Commencement University of Colorado Boulder" (in en). https://www.colorado.edu/commencement/traditions/academic-dress.
- ↑ "Academic Regalia Adornments Guidelines". Kansas State University. https://www.k-state.edu/graduation/cap-gown/regalia_guidelines/index.html.
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