FIRST Graduation Cords

[ksafin]

Hello all,

We're making a push within our school to allow for FIRST Robotics Team members at our school (FTC & FRC) to be able to receive, and wear at graduation, a Red, White, and Blue Cord to represent FIRST.

However, I was interested in getting some kind of charm with the logo of FIRST that could possibly be attached to the cord; something like the charm on a graduation cap tassel.

Anyone have any ideas or leads on this?

Thanks.

[Gray Adams]

At our school, we had a steel chain. I think school school policy prohibits chains, so we kind of keep it on the dl until graduation.

[Phyrxes]

The first thing I would do is to check with another activity sponsor that traditionally (at least around here) grants a cord or sash to students such as Key Club, National Honor Society, or Model UN. When researching for our school divisions policy we learned that a club/activity can grant a sash/cord/medallion to a student to wear at graduation . Our student leadership decided they wanted to be a bit different than most clubs so they designed a medallion and created the criteria for earning the right to wear it at graduation.

[Taylor]

Some schools use red, white, and blue cords to signify students going in the armed forces.

[Mark McLeod]

How about making the participation pins that teams received at their first event into a charm?

[CalTran]

I want to wear some #35 chain at graduation but I don't know how well that would go over with our schools administration...it'd be nice if we could have some sort of chords though!

[pwnageNick]

Red, white, and blue is commonly National French Honors Society (NFHS).

-Nick

[MARS_James]

Our main school "allows" students to wear the pins from the games, and any medals they win over their four years during the ceremony. (Ironically any of our students graduating from the class of 2009 or 2010 had four medals which made quite a sound when walking)

[iPenguin]

I don't exactly remember how, but our lead teacher mentor was able to get the graduating seniors last year (including me) all green graduation cords (green for CircuitRunners of course). My point is if red, white, and blue aren't available (such as for NFHS as indicated above), you could try going for your team's colors instead.

[Jenn Feathers]

Just an idea, at my school if you qualify for an honors diploma you walk with a stole? that says "honors"

What about getting ones with the FIRST logo on the right and maybe your team number or team name on the other?

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by CalTran

I want to wear some #35 chain at graduation but I don't know how well that would go over with our schools administration...!

Maybe if it was made from plastic or some other light non-dangerous material?

[bkahl]

Originally Posted by Taylor

Some schools use red, white, and blue cords to signify students going in the armed forces.

This was such at my High School, so we couldn't wear them during the ceremony.

We were, however, allowed to wear them in pictures post ceremony. While some of the students on my team wore theirs, I opted not to out of respect for my friends joining the military.

Please check with your school before wearing your Red White and Blue chords in ANY scenario. Please don't upstage the fine young men and women dedicating (at least part of) their lives to their country.

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by bkahl

This was such at my High School, so we couldn't wear them during the ceremony.

We were, however, allowed to wear them in pictures post ceremony. While some of the students on my team wore theirs, I opted not to out of respect for my friends joining the military.

Please check with your school before wearing your Red White and Blue chords in ANY scenario. Please don't upstage the fine young men and women dedicating (at least part of) their lives to their country.

Red white blue cords around my parts resident National French Honor Society. But more on topic, its unfortunate some places wouldn't let students wear the cords because of a slippery slope argument.

[bkahl]

Originally Posted by CalTran

Red white blue cords around my parts resident National French Honor Society. But more on topic, its unfortunate some places wouldn't let students wear the cords because of a slippery slope argument.

Slippery slope?

RW&B chords were already worn by students going into the armed forces. I happily wore no cords. I was proud of the friends that I had that that DID earn the right to wear them. Because at the end of the day, I was on a robotics team, and they're currently fighting for their country. What's more important?

I see no argument.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by bkahl

Slippery slope?

RW&B chords were already worn by students going into the armed forces. I happily wore no cords. I was proud of the friends that I had that that DID earn the right to wear them. Because at the end of the day, I was on a robotics team, and they're currently fighting for their country. What's more important?

I see no argument.

What he's referring to is the "If we let you guys have special cords, then everybody else is going to want some" argument.

It can be pretty effective, and make a lot of sense. The key counter is to state that the school sets the policy on cords, but a lot of people would like to wear honor cords that aren't necessarily covered, so can the school come up with a way to allow that without everybody being mad? (And of course, give more than one graduation season.)


Let's put it this way: If the school has that policy, and SOMEBODY doesn't fall in line, EVERYBODY hears about it, and then the school HEARS about it. Trust me. I've seen similar situations. (And the best thing for the school is to do exactly what they did: be open about that being the policy when asked. Doing otherwise means you HEAR about it that way, too.)