Question re: recognition at high school graduation

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Graceuf

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My BGO told me he comes to graduations to acknowledge when someone is attending USNA and asked me to let him know when I make a decision and he'd reach out to my principal. Is this a common practice? I'm not sure how I feel about being singled out as I would be the only one. I would appreciate opinions on this! And on the same topic, I was told by a friend that some appointees wear a red, white, and blue cord at graduation to signify their commitment to the military? I have no idea if this is true so would love to hear experience on that as well. Thank you!
 
At our school, it would be common to have someone come to the pre-graduation awards night for something like this. This is when various scholarships and other honors are bestowed (or made public). For example, someone could get an official ROTC scholarship presentation or your SA appointment called out.

IDK if your school has anything similar, but you may find there is a better opportunity to (rightly) acknowledge your achievement at a time other than when families from the entire senior class are waiting for "their" student's name to be called.
 
pa-outdoorsman said:
At our school, it would be common to have someone come to the pre-graduation awards night for something like this. This is when various scholarships and other honors are bestowed (or made public). For example, someone could get an official ROTC scholarship presentation or your SA appointment called out.

IDK if your school has anything similar, but you may find there is a better opportunity to (rightly) acknowledge your achievement at a time other than when families from the entire senior class are waiting for "their" student's name to be called.
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Oh yes, that makes absolute sense and I would be much more comfortable with that. And my school does have an awards night. Actually, I wonder if that's what he meant. Thank you so much!
 
My son was recognized at his graduation ceremony at his BGO's request. The BGO's thought process was that it may encourage a kid in the audience to pursue attending a SA. My kid couldn't care either way, but he got a wonderful reception from everyone there.
 
Our Area Coordinator (retired CAPT) came to our DS's senior awards day (it was during school hours but only attended by those receiving scholarships, etc. and not the student body or the senior class as a whole). He wore his whites and made a really nice presentation (my wife cried. and I must admit, the allergies were quite bad that day). I believe they use a standard script but he personalized it by noting that he had previously met my DS the preceding fall when my DS was HIS leadership instructor at a BSA Wood Badge session, My son probably also did not care one way or the other but his parents sure did. If it works for you and your school (and it's okay with your son/daughter), I would recommend it. School counselor or other school official should contact the BGO.

And then, the following month, the high school's alumni newsletter proudly noted that my DS received recognition for accepting an appointment to West Point. Oh, well.
 
brewmeist said:
My son was recognized at his graduation ceremony at his BGO's request. The BGO's thought process was that it may encourage a kid in the audience to pursue attending a SA. My kid couldn't care either way, but he got a wonderful reception from everyone there.
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Yes, I think it's really nice and could spark an interest in someone else! I would just not want it to be long to the point where people get annoyed since graduations can be a lot to begin with. Thank you for sharing!
 
ders_dad said:
Our Area Coordinator (retired CAPT) came to our DS's senior awards day (it was during school hours but only attended by those receiving scholarships, etc. and not the student body or the senior class as a whole). He wore his whites and made a really nice presentation (my wife cried. and I must admit, the allergies were quite bad that day). I believe they use a standard script but he personalized it by noting that he had previously met my DS the preceding fall when my DS was HIS leadership instructor at a BSA Wood Badge session, My son probably also did not care one way or the other but his parents sure did. If it works for you and your school (and it's okay with your son/daughter), I would recommend it. School counselor or other school official should contact the BGO.

And then, the following month, the high school's alumni newsletter proudly noted that my DS received recognition for accepting an appointment to West Point. Oh, well.
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That sounds so nice! It sounds like it's done both ways so I think I would leave it up to my BGO and principal to decide. Thank you so much! Did your son wear a cord or anything with the grad gown?
 
ders_dad said:
Our Area Coordinator (retired CAPT) came to our DS's senior awards day (it was during school hours but only attended by those receiving scholarships, etc. and not the student body or the senior class as a whole). He wore his whites and made a really nice presentation (my wife cried. and I must admit, the allergies were quite bad that day). I believe they use a standard script but he personalized it by noting that he had previously met my DS the preceding fall when my DS was HIS leadership instructor at a BSA Wood Badge session, My son probably also did not care one way or the other but his parents sure did. If it works for you and your school (and it's okay with your son/daughter), I would recommend it. School counselor or other school official should contact the BGO.

And then, the following month, the high school's alumni newsletter proudly noted that my DS received recognition for accepting an appointment to West Point. Oh, well.
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I can imagine the pride! What a great moment for you as parents. As we all know, getting our DDs and DSs to graduation day in one piece is no small task. To see them pursue opportunities such as these is truly humbling.
 
Graceuf said:
My BGO told me he comes to graduations to acknowledge when someone is attending USNA and asked me to let him know when I make a decision and he'd reach out to my principal. Is this a common practice? I'm not sure how I feel about being singled out as I would be the only one. I would appreciate opinions on this! And on the same topic, I was told by a friend that some appointees wear a red, white, and blue cord at graduation to signify their commitment to the military? I have no idea if this is true so would love to hear experience on that as well. Thank you!
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It’s totally up to you. Not required of your appointment. Its something we offer to do!

As far as chords go, that is high school dependent. Also not a requirement of your appointment.
 
Graceuf said:
Did your son wear a cord or anything with the grad gown?
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our Boy Scout council gave my son a red-white-blue cord in recognition of his appointment and being an Eagle Scout. He made the mistake of asking permission to wear it with his gown at the graduation ceremony and was denied, with the explanation that they do not allow non-school cords, pins, or sashes. I called the district superintendent to plead the case and was denied. Yet, at graduation students were wearing all kind of cords and sashes from various non-school organizations. We learned afterward that Marine enlisted grads had routinely been given black, red, yellow, green sashes in past years and some “persons” had objected to the wearing of “military insignia or symbols” at graduation because it made some students uncomfortable. I’ll just leave it at that because I prefer to not be banned from this most excellent and well-moderated forum.
 
I usually attend the Senior Award ceremony..its great recognition for the student, but has the dual purpose of promoting awareness of USNA. I've made the presentation at a graduation once ...a very small rural school, I drove about 3 hours to get there ! Graduating class was about 20, and all but one had been together since kindergarten. Great kid and certainly the BMOC. Unfortunately, the only appointee that I've had that DOR'd -- left youngster year and is not a State Trooper. I haven't talked to him since that graduation day, but if I ever get stopped on the Highway, I hope its him....
 
At my MidSib's graduation, there were two graduates enlisting in the Air Force and they wore a special sash for that. My Mid (High School class of 2020) didn't have a graduation but a cord from an SA would've been lost with his 5 others. For that reason, he decided to not even ask about wearing an "Eagle Scout cord."
 
It's a personal thing and you should do only what makes you comfortable. DD started gunning for an SA as a 9th grader. All her friends knew it. So when she received her offers of appointment, her friends heard about that too. That was good enough for DD. She didn't feel the need for further public recognition. We didn't push her either way. Neither did her BGO. (DS won a four-year AROTC scholarship. He too declined any further public recognition.)

You do you. As always, YMMV.
 
Ex
ders_dad said:
our Boy Scout council gave my son a red-white-blue cord in recognition of his appointment and being an Eagle Scout. He made the mistake of asking permission to wear it with his gown at the graduation ceremony and was denied, with the explanation that they do not allow non-school cords, pins, or sashes. I called the district superintendent to plead the case and was denied. Yet, at graduation students were wearing all kind of cords and sashes from various non-school organizations. We learned afterward that Marine enlisted grads had routinely been given black, red, yellow, green sashes in past years and some “persons” had objected to the wearing of “military insignia or symbols” at graduation because it made some students uncomfortable. I’ll just leave it at that because I prefer to not be banned from this most excellent and well-moderated forum.
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Excellent example of it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission. My son will be wearing his cord for Eagle Scout and another one for Boys' State. 🇺🇸
 
ders_dad said:
our Boy Scout council gave my son a red-white-blue cord in recognition of his appointment and being an Eagle Scout. He made the mistake of asking permission to wear it with his gown at the graduation ceremony and was denied, with the explanation that they do not allow non-school cords, pins, or sashes. I called the district superintendent to plead the case and was denied. Yet, at graduation students were wearing all kind of cords and sashes from various non-school organizations. We learned afterward that Marine enlisted grads had routinely been given black, red, yellow, green sashes in past years and some “persons” had objected to the wearing of “military insignia or symbols” at graduation because it made some students uncomfortable. I’ll just leave it at that because I prefer to not be banned from this most excellent and well-moderated forum.
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Our school removed publication and recognition of military in the graduation ceremony for the same reason.

I also prefer to not be banned from this most excellently moderated forum 🤐
 
To be involved in the military is to appreciate the bitter irony of it all: Committing to defend citizens' sacred right to complain about, be offended by, rally against and purposefully oppose the very people who are committed to defend that sacred right.

Aside: I teach at our flagship state university. Last fall, in class, I called out a player on our D1 football team -- a walk-on, without scholarship -- who was enjoying a breakout season. Applause broke out and he blushed from the front row.

A few weeks later, I called out a Marine staff sergeant -- a college student, courtesy of the MECEP program -- to wish her "Happy Marine Corps Birthday." Even louder applause broke out and she blushed from the back row. I couldn't have been prouder of my students.
 
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