Walking into the Apple Bowl, students are dressed in purple robes, with cords and stoles around their necks. At Wenatchee High School, students have the opportunity to earn a variety of bling to wear to graduation.

A stole is a sash used to recognize significant achievements. Sometimes, a stole includes membership into an organization. Stoles are worn around the shoulders. They are commonplace at high school and college graduation ceremonies.

Students who maintained a 4.0 grade point average during high school are eligible to receive the gold valedictorian stole, presented during the graduation ceremony. Anyone wishing to be valedictorian must attend a majority of their classes at WHS. Full-time Running Start students are not eligible, nor are students with substantial homeschooling hours.

DECA, an association of business students, also gives out stoles. Their stoles are white with the DECA diamond. Receiving the stole is “based off the number of years in DECA and their involvement in the program,” DECA Adviser Matt Pakinas said. There is a minimum of two years involvement for a stole.

“For exceptional students that are involved in DECA an exception will be made if it is their senior year and they are a first-year DECA student,” Pakinas said.

Future Business Leaders of America gives stoles to seniors who are involved during their senior year.

Other organizations give out honor cords. Honor cords are twisted ropes with tassels on each end. They are awarded to members of societies, to honor achievements, or as an award. More than one cord can be worn at a time, and they are also commonplace at high school and college graduation ceremonies. Cords are often used at the university level to indicate Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude, and membership in a Greek sorority or fraternity.

Journalism students ranked in the top third of their graduating class are eligible to be members of the Quill and Scroll, which is the “the Journalism Honor Society,” according to Journalism Adviser Dave Riggs. Juniors receive pins, and seniors receive cords and pins.

In Future Farmers of America, members must earn their State Degree to wear a stole at graduation. Earning a State FFA Degree is an arduous process, requirements including two years of agriculture class, knowledge of parliamentary law procedures, a satisfactory academic record, and 25 hours of community service.

“The award recipients are deemed worthy at the State level. It’s a pretty big deal to get the State Degree,” FFA Adviser Beth Hammerberg said.

To receive cords for involvement in National Honor Society, one must be an inducted member in good standing (3.5 GPA, 15 hours of community service) for at least one semester. The incoming Honor Society officers present seniors with their cords during the graduation ceremony.

In the past, students have chosen to wear sashes from events like Homecoming and Prom royalty sashes, or Mr. Panther awards.