This was previously published in the 2026 senior issue.
Vibrant strands of maroon and gold intertwined with a royal blue are draped around a neck amongst a rainbow of braided cords. Each cord recognizes a distinct accomplishment this student achieved throughout their high school career.
But for the Class of 2026 graduation, Emmaus High School (EHS) standardized graduation cords into four categories of color: white, gold, light green, and dark green. In doing so, EHS has dimmed the spotlight on students and their specific accomplishments.
Under the new policy, white cords are academic achievements, gold are service achievements, light green are activity achievements, and green cords are athletic achievements.
In previous years, honors societies were exclusively given distinctive graduation cords. After many complaints from students to create more opportunities, specifically for clubs and athletics, EHS finally adapted with this change.
This change was made with good intent as a way to expand opportunities for students; however, it constricts the various honor societies, clubs, and athletics to broad categories with indistinguishable cords that diminish the well-deserved recognition that graduation cords intend to elevate.
Historically, graduation regalia — which frequently includes the graduation gown, cap, stoles, and cords — has remained an unchanged component of graduation ceremonies since the 16th century. Since its conception, graduation ceremonies have always been monumental milestones for students to be recognized for their academic efforts and achievements.
While EHS students will still have cords, the individuality presented by having distinct cords will no longer be present, making an artist look identical to a scientist at graduation, and a scientist identical to a bilingual student.
In previous years, EHS honor societies, such as the National Art Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and World Language Honor Society, have had distinctive graduation cord colors.
Unlike clubs, students must apply to become a member of an honor society, as only a select number of students are accepted. Additionally, the rigor of each honor society varies, as some are easier to get into than others. By not acknowledging such individual achievements and accomplishments during graduation ceremonies, students may feel deterred from applying to honor societies at all, as the service hours will pass without acknowledgement.
For students in honor societies, completing a certain number of service hours and paying a fee is a requirement to become a member.
Therefore, students who are members of multiple honor societies must complete a great deal of service hours, in addition to paying several fees, simply to receive a multitude of the same white cord.
The recognition of athletics and clubs is a positive addition, but restricting individuality undermines the value of what should be a huge milestone for EHS. Many students involved with athletics allocate several hours weekly to their practices, and recognition for their efforts and accomplishments is well deserved. Likewise, students who hold leadership positions in clubs often dedicate hours of their time outside of school attending meetings.
However, these students’ efforts and accomplishments are still indistinguishable from those of other students within the same category.
A possible solution to this issue would be to give distinctive cords to each honor society, club, and athletic sport. The four categories would remain with their respective color, but in addition to that color, the braided cord would have a distinctive color to represent the student’s specific accomplishment, club, sport, or honor society. Students would be able to receive their well-deserved acknowledgement while still expanding opportunities for others to receive graduation cords.
While difficulties may arise in creating distinct cords for the large variety of clubs and athletics, braided cords can contain three or more colors, which allows for EHS to make distinctive cords for individual clubs and athletics.
In an 8-4 vote, The Stinger Editorial Board advocates against the changes for graduation cords, as doing so diminishes acknowledgement for students’ achievements and individuality.
