A stole is a long, scarf-like garment worn during graduation ceremonies, often draped around the neck and over the shoulders of the graduation gown. Graduation stoles are used to signify a student’s achievements in academics or extracurricular activities. They can also highlight a student’s membership or affiliation with a group or field of study.
Stoles serve as visual markers, differentiating students based on their accomplishments and affiliations. For instance, valedictorians, salutatorians, and commencement speakers are frequently seen wearing stoles. Members of student councils, honor societies, sororities, and fraternities are also often distinguished by their unique stoles. Furthermore, specific degree programs are often represented by a color standard that is recognized across many colleges and universities in the United States. Students majoring in Math and Science often wear yellow stoles, while Engineering majors might wear orange stoles.
Beyond academic and extracurricular recognition, wearing a stole can carry a profound cultural and symbolic meaning.
Kente stoles have gained popularity among African American students as a way to honor their heritage and acknowledge the challenges faced due to displacement from Africa. These stoles feature the intricate patterns and vibrant colors characteristic of the 400-year-old Ghanaian Kente tradition. Typically, these stoles are presented to students during a special ceremony known as the ‘Donning of the Kente,’ which takes place prior to the formal graduation commencement.
The “Donning of the Kente” ceremony began in 1993 at West Chester University, thanks to the initiative of four faculty members who sought to acknowledge the unique obstacles overcome by African American students during their educational journey. Since then, the practice has spread across numerous schools in America. Every year, thousands of students proudly wear Kente stoles as they walk across the graduation stage. While primarily worn by African American graduates, students from other ethnic minority groups have embraced the tradition as well.
