# Graduation pin > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Graduation_pin > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Graduation_pin.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduation_pin > Source revision: 1353944015 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Pin worn at graduation to denote membership in an honour society or academic programme}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Use American English|date=May 2026}} [[File:Doctoral gown shows five-inch velvet panel down the front and three velvet bars on each sleeve, with university pins.jpg|thumb|right|150px|A doctoral gown worn at [Syracuse University](/source/Syracuse_University) showing university pins on the front]] [[File:Phi Beta Kappa Key.JPG|thumb|right|100px|The [Phi Beta Kappa](/source/Phi_Beta_Kappa) key, one of the most recognised academic honor pins{{Cite web |title=The Phi Beta Kappa Key |url=https://www.rochester.edu/college/pbk/key.html |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=www.rochester.edu |language=en-US}}]] A '''graduation pin''' is a small decorative [pin badge](/source/pin_badge) worn on [academic regalia](/source/academic_regalia) during [commencement](/source/commencement) ceremonies to denote membership in an [honor society](/source/honor_society), academic achievement, or affiliation with a recognized organization.{{cite web |title=Caps, Gowns, and Attire |url=https://www.drake.edu/registrar/commencement/capsgownsandattire/ |publisher=Drake University |access-date=2026-05-12}} Pins are one of several forms of adornment worn alongside the cap and gown, together with [honor cords](/source/honor_cords), [stoles](/source/Academic_stole), and [honor medal](/source/honor_medal).{{cite web |title=What to Wear |url=https://harrisburg.psu.edu/commencement/what-wear |publisher=Penn State Harrisburg |access-date=2026-05-12}} [Northwestern University](/source/Northwestern_University) lists cords, stoles, and pins together as items awarded by schools and campus organizations and distributed to eligible students before commencement.{{cite web |title=Regalia |url=https://www.northwestern.edu/graduation/students/regalia.html |publisher=Northwestern University |access-date=2026-05-12}} ==Use at commencement== At [Drake University](/source/Drake_University), academic honor cords or pins may be worn at commencement if earned from a college or school recognized academic organization.{{cite web |title=Caps, Gowns, and Attire |url=https://www.drake.edu/registrar/commencement/capsgownsandattire/ |publisher=Drake University |access-date=2026-05-12}} [Pacific Lutheran University](/source/Pacific_Lutheran_University) permits students who have received honors pins, such as those from the Wang Center and Center for Diversity, Justice, and Sustainability, to wear them during commencement.{{cite web |title=Regalia |url=https://www.plu.edu/commencement/regalia/ |publisher=Pacific Lutheran University |access-date=2026-05-12}} [Penn State Harrisburg](/source/Penn_State_Harrisburg) notes that [Psi Chi](/source/Psi_Chi) (Psychology) awards graduating members a pin and platinum and blue cord, and the Gary McDowell Institute awards graduating Student Fellows a pin bearing the letters GMI.{{cite web |title=What to Wear |url=https://harrisburg.psu.edu/commencement/what-wear |publisher=Penn State Harrisburg |access-date=2026-05-12}} ==Relationship to honor cords== [Georgia Tech](/source/Georgia_Tech)'s commencement regalia policy lists pins among approved adornments that may be added to standard regalia to signify a student's membership or association with a recognized organization or academic program.{{cite web |title=Commencement Regalia Policy |url=https://www.policylibrary.gatech.edu/academic-affairs/commencement-regalia |publisher=Georgia Institute of Technology |access-date=2026-05-12}} [Penn State Abington](/source/Penn_State_Abington)'s commencement policy permits all ornamentation including pins, cords, ribbons, stoles, sashes, and medallions representing recognized honorary societies to be worn at commencement.{{cite web |title=What to Wear |url=https://www.abington.psu.edu/commencement/policy-regalia |publisher=Penn State Abington |access-date=2026-05-12}} The [Phi Beta Kappa](/source/Phi_Beta_Kappa) society awards graduating members a distinctive key worn from a blue and pink ribbon at the [University of Richmond](/source/University_of_Richmond)'s commencement, bearing the [Greek letters](/source/Greek_letter_society) and the society's founding date of 1776 on the reverse.{{cite web |title=Distinctive Honors |url=https://commencement.richmond.edu/graduating-students/undergraduate/regalia/distinctive-honors.html |publisher=University of Richmond |access-date=2026-05-12}}{{cite web |title=The Phi Beta Kappa Key |url=https://www.rochester.edu/college/pbk/key.html |publisher=University of Rochester |access-date=2026-05-12}} ==See also== * [Honor cords](/source/Honor_cords) * [Honor medal](/source/Honor_medal) * [Academic regalia](/source/Academic_regalia) * [Honor society](/source/Honor_society) * [Commencement](/source/Commencement) * [Phi Beta Kappa](/source/Phi_Beta_Kappa) == References == {{Reflist}} Category:Graduation Category:Academic dress Category:School terminology Category:Honor societies Category:Fraternity and sorority culture Category:Academic awards --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Graduation pin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduation_pin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduation_pin?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.