Tassels, Stoles, and Cords: The Regalia of the Avenue
The Tassels
The Class of 2026 is making its way down the Avenue for the final time on May 16. With them come new friends and the start of their careers. Black-gown regalia, a cap, and a diploma in hand, they head out on the new adventure Saint Mary’s prepared them for. Before they start their journey, graduates move their tassels from right to left, to indicate the completion of their degrees. At graduation, orange, white, pink, and other colors dangle from the caps of the Class of 2026, each color representing a unique degree at Saint Mary’s.
This year, guests at Commencement will see the following tassels on the caps of students:
- Arts and Humanities - White
- Science - Golden Yellow
- Fine Arts - Brown
- Music - Pink
- Business - Light Brown
- Social Work - Citron
- Nursing - Apricot
The Stole
The Graduation Stole is a decorative vestment worn by students who are members of college organizations for the purpose of recognizing membership or achievement. For seniors, stoles are a way to showcase their involvement at Saint Mary’s. They drape over the shoulders and have vibrant colors, symbols, and phrases. From student-athletes to study abroad, all of these stoles represent the students as they walk down the Avenue for the last time.
- Art Club
- Business Advisory Board
- College Democrats
- Education Department
- Engineering
- Financial Management Association - National Honor Society
- Future Women in Healthcare
- Health Occupation Students of America
- Lady Accountants of Tomorrow
- Mu Kappa Tau
- Multi-Ethnic
- Notre Dame Cheer
- Notre Dame Chorale
- Notre Dame Folk Choir
- Notre Dame Marching Band
- Notre Dame Monogram Club
- Notre Dame Observer
- NSSLHA
- Political Science - Washington Seminar
- Residence Life
- Resident Hall Association
- Society for the Advancement of Chicanos, Hispanics, and Native Americans in Science
- Saint Mary's College Cheerleading
- Saint Mary's College Dance Marathon
- Saint Mary's College Nursing Student Alliance for Inclusion and Diversity - Student Leaders
- Saint Mary's College Sustainable Farms Interns and Student Employees
- Saint Mary's College Varsity Athletes
- Student Activities Board
- Student Nurses Association
- Study Abroad
- Tocqueville Fellowship Program/Constitutional Studies Notre Dame
- Turning Point USA_SMC Chapter
The Honor Cord
An Honor Cord is a token consisting of twisted cords with tassels on either end. Their wearing signifies specific academic achievement or membership in a Saint Mary’s recognized academic honor group or society. In a variety of twinned colors, honor cords are a memorable piece of graduation. Many seniors will have an abundance or just one in which they devoted their time and participation during the years at Saint Mary’s.
- Alpha Kappa Delta - Sociology Honor Society
- Alpha Xi Eta - English Honor Society
- American Chemical Society
- Army ROTC
- BAVO
- Bellacapella
- Belles Connect Scholars
- Belles For Life
- Belles Unite Borders
- Belles Voix
- Beta Beta Beta - Biology Honors Society
- Biology Club
- Black Student Association
- Business Belles Club at SMC
- Class Council
- College Democrats at Saint Mary's
- College Republicans at Saint Mary's
- Commuter Student
- Delta Alpha Pi
- Entrepreneurship Club
- Feminists United
- FIAT Campus Ministry
- Gerontology Club
- Global Studies Club
- Hidden Opponent (The)
- IT Workers
- Italian Club
- LaFuerza
- Lambda Pi Eta - National Communication Honors
- Leaders for the Common Good
- LGBTQ+ Center
- Morgan's Message
- National Association of Social Workers
- National Society of Women Engineers
- ND Men's and Women's Boxing Club
- ND-SMC Irish Dance Team
- Notre Dame Best Buddies
- Notre Dame Equestrian
- Notre Dame Figure Skating Club
- Notre Dame Harmonia Acapellsa
- Notre Dame Horn Choir
- Notre Dame Humor Artists Comedy Troupe
- Notre Dame Liturgical Choir
- Notre Dame Magnificat Choir
- Notre Dame Memory Lab Student Research Assistant
- Notre Dame Pom Squad
- Notre Dame Ultimate Frisbee Club Team
- Notre Dame ROTC - Air Force
- Notre Dame Symphony Orchestra
- Notre Dame Transpose Dance Collective
- Notre Dame Women's Club Water Polo Team
- Office of Admission - Senior Ambassadors
- Phi Alpha Theta - National History Honor Society
- Phi Mu Epsilon - Honors Math Society
- Physics Club
- Pi Delta Phi - French Honor Society
- Pi Lambda Theta - International Honors-Education
- Pi Sigma Alpha - Political Science Honors
- Political Science Club
- President's Committee on Sexual Violence
- Psi Chi - Psychology Honors
- Resident Assistant
- SAGE
- Saint Mary's Affiliates of the American Chemical Society
- Saint Mary's Bookworm Club
- Saint Mary's College Club Volleyball
- Saint Mary's College Dance Team
- Saint Mary's College Belles in Economics Club
- Saint Mary's College Content Creators
- Saint Mary's College Education Club
- Saint Mary's College Global Studies Club
- Saint Mary's College Investment Club
- Saint Mary's College Pickle Ball Club Student Leaders
- Saint Mary's College Pre-Law Society
- Saint Mary's College Sailing Team
- Saint Mary's College Smick Stitch Society Student Leaders
- Saint Mary's College Yoga Club
- She's The First
- Sigma Iota Rho - International Relations / Global Studies
- Sigma Pi Sigma - Physics Honor Society
- Sigma Tau Delta - International English Honors
- Sigma Theta Tau - International Honor Society of Nursing
- Sisterhood of Service
- Smick Cycles
- Social Work - Student Leaders
- Social Work - Senior Achievement Award
- Sociology/Criminology Club
- Sorin Fellows
- Spanish Club
- Student-Athlete Advisory
- Student Diversity Board
- Student Government Association
- Student International Business Council at Notre Dame
- Theta Alpha Kappa - National Religious and Theology
- Troop Notre Dame Dance Team
- Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative
April 16, 2026
