Shop Graduation Accessories - Honor Cords, Tassels & More at Award Covers

Business Apr 25, 2025 17 Add to Reading List

Graduation day is one of the most significant milestones in a person’s life. It marks the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance, and dedication. Whether it’s high school, college, or postgraduate studies, this momentous occasion deserves to be celebrated in style, with all the special accessories that reflect the achievements of the graduates. Among the essential graduation accessories are honor cords, tassels, and various other items that add meaning and elegance to the graduation ceremony. Award Covers, a leading supplier of graduation regalia, is the perfect place to shop for these accessories. Let’s explore the different types of graduation accessories available at Award Covers and how they contribute to making the graduation day even more memorable.

The Significance of Graduation Accessories

Graduation accessories do more than just add a decorative touch to caps and gowns—they symbolize a student’s achievements, dedication, and the hard work they put into reaching this significant milestone. These accessories can represent academic honors, leadership roles, and involvement in various extracurricular activities, allowing students to showcase their individual accomplishments on their graduation day.

Among the most popular and symbolic graduation accessories are honor cords, tassels, and sashes. Each of these items has specific meanings that reflect the student's academic journey, and they serve as a visual representation of their accomplishments. These accessories can be worn with the traditional cap and gown to complete the graduation look, and they play a key role in highlighting the graduate's unique achievements.

Award Covers understands the importance of these accessories, offering a wide variety of options for students to customize their graduation attire. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the range of graduation accessories available at Award Covers, including honor cords, tassels, and more.

Honor Cords: A Symbol of Excellence

Honor cords are one of the most coveted graduation accessories, as they are often awarded to students who have achieved academic excellence, been involved in leadership roles, or demonstrated outstanding performance in other areas. These cords are worn around the neck, draped over the shoulders, and often tied in place with a small knot at the base of the neck.

Types of Honor Cords

Award Covers offers a wide range of honor cords, each representing a different academic or extracurricular achievement. Some of the most common types include:

Summa Cum Laude Cords – These cords are typically awarded to students who have earned the highest honors, such as a GPA that falls within the top 1-2% of the graduating class. The color and design of the cords may vary, but they often feature gold or silver to symbolize academic excellence.
Cum Laude Cords – For students who have earned honors for a high academic GPA (typically in the top 10-15% of their class), cum laude cords are often purple and gold. These cords are an excellent way to honor those who have worked hard and excelled in their studies.
Leadership Cords – Many schools recognize leadership roles with honor cords that reflect the student's involvement in student government, clubs, or other leadership opportunities. Leadership cords are often available in a wide range of colors, including red, blue, or white, symbolizing strength, courage, and integrity.
Specialized Cords for Organizations – Honor societies such as Phi Beta Kappa, National Honor Society (NHS), and other academic organizations have their own designated cords. These cords are often available in colors specific to each organization, allowing students to display their memberships proudly.
Multicolor Cords – Multicolor honor cords are commonly worn by students who have received multiple honors or who have participated in several organizations. The different colors of the cords represent the diversity of achievements.

Why Honor Cords Matter

Honor cords symbolize academic and personal achievements that go beyond the classroom. Whether a student has achieved high academic marks, demonstrated leadership, or been involved in service organizations, the honor cord is a way of showcasing their dedication and accomplishments. At Award Covers, graduates can find a wide variety of cords, allowing them to represent their unique journey through education. These cords are made of high-quality materials and are designed to withstand the rigors of the ceremony while still looking elegant and stylish.

Tassels: The Classic Graduation Accessory

No graduation ceremony is complete without the iconic tassel hanging from the cap. The tassel is a symbol of transition and achievement. Traditionally, students wear the tassel on the right side of their graduation cap during the ceremony and then move it to the left side after receiving their diploma, symbolizing the official completion of their studies.

Types of Tassels

Award Covers offers a wide selection of tassels to suit every graduate's needs. These tassels come in a variety of colors, with each color often representing a specific academic discipline or achievement. Some of the most popular options include:

Standard Tassels – These tassels are typically available in a wide range of colors to match school colors or the graduate's program. They are often adorned with a metallic charm that adds a touch of elegance to the tassel.
Honor Tassels – Honor tassels are often available for students who have achieved a high GPA or earned special academic distinctions. These tassels may feature gold or silver metallic accents to signify academic excellence.
Multicolor Tassels – Similar to honor cords, multicolor tassels are worn by students who have earned multiple honors or belong to several organizations. These tassels often combine two or more colors, allowing the student to showcase their diverse achievements.
Subject-Specific Tassels – Some schools offer tassels that are color-coded to represent different academic disciplines, such as red for business, gold for humanities, or green for health sciences. Award Covers offers a selection of these tassels, allowing students to highlight their specific field of study.
Personalized Tassels – Award Covers also offers personalized tassels that can be customized with specific symbols, initials, or other design elements that represent the student's unique journey.

The Symbolism of the Tassel

The tassel is one of the most iconic symbols of graduation. It represents the culmination of the student’s academic efforts and marks the transition from student to graduate. The simple yet powerful act of moving the tassel from right to left symbolizes the closing of one chapter and the opening of another. Tassels add a ceremonial elegance to the graduation outfit and provide a memorable way for students to commemorate their academic success.

Graduation Sashes: Adding a Touch of Elegance

While honor cords and tassels are the most commonly recognized graduation accessories, sashes have become an increasingly popular addition to the graduation attire. Sashes are worn over the shoulder and across the chest, often adding a burst of color and personalization to the graduate's gown. They are typically used to recognize achievements such as membership in honor societies, cultural organizations, or athletic accomplishments.

Types of Graduation Sashes

Honor Society Sashes – Students who have been inducted into an honor society may wear a sash that represents their specific society. These sashes are typically adorned with the organization's insignia and come in various colors and designs to match the society’s official colors.
Custom Sashes – Award Covers offers customizable sashes that can be personalized with names, dates, and other special symbols. This makes the sash a great keepsake after graduation.
Cultural or Organization Sashes – Many cultural and professional organizations offer sashes to commemorate their members’ achievements. These sashes often come in specific colors or patterns that reflect the organization’s culture or heritage.

Why Wear a Graduation Sash?

Sashes provide an additional opportunity for graduates to represent their involvement in various organizations and achievements. Whether it’s academic, professional, or cultural, a sash can showcase a student's hard work and dedication. They offer a more personalized and elegant touch to the graduation regalia, helping students stand out as they celebrate their accomplishments.

Other Graduation Accessories

While honor cords, tassels, and sashes are the most prominent graduation accessories, there are also other items that contribute to the graduation experience. Some of these include:

Diploma Covers – A diploma cover is an essential accessory for storing the diploma after the ceremony. Award Covers offers premium-quality diploma covers in a variety of colors and designs.
Graduation Stoles – Graduation stoles are similar to sashes but are typically worn around the neck, and they often represent academic achievements or membership in various organizations.
Custom Graduation Caps – Many graduates choose to personalize their caps by adding unique decorations, symbols, or messages that reflect their personality and accomplishments. Award Covers offers a selection of customizable graduation caps that can be personalized with the graduate’s name or other details.

Conclusion

Graduation day is a momentous occasion, and the accessories worn on this day are more than just decorative—they are symbols of achievement, hard work, and personal growth. At Award Covers, students can find a wide selection of graduation accessories, from honor cords and tassels to sashes and stoles. These accessories help celebrate the graduate's accomplishments, make the day even more special, and provide a lasting reminder of their journey.

Whether you're looking for honor cords to showcase academic excellence, a tassel to mark your transition, or a sash to represent your leadership, Award Covers offers a variety of options to ensure you have everything you need to make your graduation day unforgettable.