Graduation Medallions
Graduation Medals & Academic Honor Medallions
Recognize graduates with graduation medals and academic honor medallions selected for the recipient and achievement.
All the Buzz
See what customers are gossiping about
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GraduationSource makes graduation unbelievably efficient for us—the complete package arrives in a single shipment, giving our students a seamless, stress-free experience. The quality is consistently impressive.
Wendolyn Larkins
American National University
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I want to thank GraduationSource™ and its staff for helping us with a last-minute order. They went above and beyond to make sure we received the items in a timely manner. Thank you!
Minerva
Cape Coral Technical College
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Our experience with GraduationSource™ was excellent. We received every cap, gown, and tassel on time and perfectly organized—making it easy to distribute across four campuses.
Carson Osborn
Metro Tech
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I am absolutely delighted with the quality of the Premium Doctoral Hood. When I opened the package, I was very pleased. Thank you!
Sherry
Northern Arizona University
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GraduationSource’s quality and customization made our graduates look amazing on stage. Everything arrived on time, and the entire experience was smooth and stress-free. The ordering process was simple and straightforward. GraduationSource is reliable, responsive, and truly takes the stress out of planning.
Ana Gonzalez
Rio Grande Valley College
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The parents and the students would like to say thanks for making our children look nice for graduation. The smile on the faces of our children when I delivered the gowns to their classroom was overwhelming!
Yolanda B
Velasco Elementary
Recognition Planning Guide
Match the Medal to the Graduate and the Achievement
Graduation medals and medallions give schools a visible way to recognize completion, academic honors and class distinctions. The current collection combines child-sized early-education medals with adult medallions bearing fixed award wording, so the most important decision is not simply color. It is selecting the right recipient level and recognition label.
Review the exact wording on every product card before ordering. The current assortment does not require buyers to create custom engraving or personalized medal copy.
Early Education
Preschool, Pre-Kinder, Head Start and Kindergarten medals align the award wording with the program milestone.
Graduate Recognition
General Graduate medals work when the school wants the same completion award for an eligible group.
Academic Honors
Honor and Latin-honors wording supports the institution's approved academic recognition structure.
Class Distinction
Salutatorian and Valedictorian medallions identify specific graduating-class honors.
Current Graduation Medal Options
Use this guide to narrow the category before reviewing the product-level specifications and ribbon selection.
| Recognition Path | Current Wording Examples | Best For | Verify Before Ordering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child milestone medals | Preschool, Pre-Kinder, Head Start, Kindergarten, Graduate | Early-learning completion and moving-up ceremonies | Program wording, recipient count and child/adult product designation |
| Adult general medals | Graduate, Honor | General completion or broad honors groups | School eligibility rules and ribbon selection |
| Latin honors medallions | Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude | Institutions using approved Latin-honors distinctions | Official award list and exact number of recipients in each tier |
| Class-rank medallions | Salutatorian, Valedictorian | Named class-rank recognition | Final recipient confirmation before distribution |
Build a Clean Recognition Plan
Define the awards
Create one approved list of medal wording and eligibility. Avoid adding a title that is not part of the institution's recognition policy.
Separate recipient groups
Count child milestones, general graduates, honors recipients and class distinctions separately so similar products are not mixed during distribution.
Plan presentation
Decide whether medals will be worn during the ceremony, distributed in advance or presented as awards, then organize them by wording.
Medal or Medallion?
Graduation suppliers and schools often use both terms. On this page, “medal” describes the broader award category, while “medallion” is useful for the larger adult academic pieces worn on neck ribbons. Product names remain the final authority for what is included.
Representative adult Honor and Valedictorian products list a 2.6-inch, 3-millimeter-thick die-cast zinc medallion with an antique brass finish and a selectable neck ribbon. Specifications can vary by item, so confirm the selected product instead of applying one description to the entire category.
Planning multiple awards?
Request quantity pricing after the final recognition list and recipient counts are approved.
Request Quantity PricingRelated Recognition Accessories
Frequently Asked Questions
Answered by graduation experts.
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What types of graduation medals are available?
The current collection includes child medals for Preschool, Pre-Kinder, Head Start, Kindergarten and general Graduate recognition. Adult options include Graduate, Honor, Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude, Salutatorian and Valedictorian medallions. Review the live product grid because exact availability and product details can change.
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What is the difference between a graduation medal and a medallion?
The terms are often used interchangeably. “Graduation medal” is the broader shopping term for an award worn on a ribbon, while “medallion” may describe a larger or more ceremonial academic piece. GraduationSource uses both terms across the category and product names, so compare the exact dimensions, wording and included selections on the product page.
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Do the medals include a neck ribbon?
The current category product names identify medals sold “with ribbon,” and representative adult products include a neck-ribbon selection step. Confirm the selected ribbon and the complete product configuration before adding the item to your cart. Do not assume that every separate medal or replacement component includes the same ribbon option.
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Can the graduation medals be personalized or engraved?
The current category is built around stock medals with fixed wording such as Honor, Graduate, Valedictorian and program-specific early-education labels. Custom engraving, personalized names and custom medal wording were not verified for this collection. Choose the product whose displayed wording matches the school's approved award.
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How should a school choose medal wording?
Start with the institution's official recognition policy and final recipient list. Match each group to the exact product wording, then separate general completion medals, Latin honors and named class distinctions before ordering. This prevents similar-looking awards from being mixed and keeps the ceremony consistent with the school's approved honors structure.
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Are there child and adult graduation medals?
Yes. The current category includes child medals for early-education milestones and adult medallions for graduation and academic honors. Use the product title and specifications to confirm the intended recipient level. Do not choose only by award wording, because similarly themed products may differ in size and presentation.
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Can schools order graduation medals in quantity?
Yes. Current medal product pages display quantity pricing and a school-pricing path. Finalize the award wording and recipient count for every group before requesting pricing. Schools should also decide whether medals will be distributed before the ceremony, worn during commencement or presented separately as recognition awards.
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What other graduation accessories pair with medals?
Medals can be coordinated with graduation gowns, stoles and honor cords when each accessory has a defined role in the ceremony. Avoid layering accessories simply for appearance. Graduation coordinators should confirm the institution's regalia rules and make sure every recognition item is approved before the final order.