Graduation Pins

Nursing pinning ceremonies and class-of-year pins

Students in a nursing program receive a pin at a pinning ceremony held before commencement. The Bluegrass Community and Technical College Associate Degree Nursing pin is an oval with a blue rim and a gold die struck seal. ReNurse Academy chose a Nurse Graduate pin with a stethoscope in green enamel and gold. Unlike enamel pins, which fill color between the metal lines as soft enamel or hard enamel (cloisonné), die struck pins keep a raised metal design with a polished or antique finish and no color fill.

Class-of-year and honors pins carry the graduating year or a program name on the metal. For Eastpointe High School, the 2024 shamrock pin shows the year with the words Pride, Excellence, Honor. Include the class year or the honors title on the face so each order matches that graduating class. Average size is about 1.25 inches. Plating choices are gold, silver, copper, black nickel, and antique finishes chosen for the order.

Program and alumni pins can be reordered for the next class with the year updated on the same artwork. A university alumni pin reading Now and forever I am a Roadrunner shows the roadrunner mascot. Reedley College CAMP, the College Assistance Migrant Program, chose a mortarboard over a sunrise. Start with a sketch or with last year’s pin and the next class can use the same layout.

Getting Creative With Your Own Set of Graduation Pins

Graduation day is a special occasion on its own, but the custom pins donned by graduates help make the experience even more meaningful. Each one is a symbol of how far a student has come and all the things they have yet to experience.

Schools, clubs and student organizations all across the world have their own colors, traditions and courses of study that play a role in the design of their custom pins, giving every design a unique sense of character. Some people prefer shield-shaped pins displaying a coat of arms, while others choose to design a unique mascot pin. No matter the case, graduation pins are a celebration of achievement that graduates can wear with pride.

Lapel Pins for Graduation Caps, Gowns and Tassels

Before getting started on a custom design, it’s important to know where the pins will be secured to your graduation regalia. This step can be a bit of a hurdle to get over because not every organization has a set standard or traditional way to don a pin for graduation. So, where do graduation pins go?

While some institutions have their own traditions, the placement of graduation pins is usually left up to the students. Some choose to secure their honor pins to their graduation cap, but one of the best ways to make sure your pins are visible in photos and to passersby is to attach them to your tassel. Graduation pins can also be attached to the ribbon of a graduation medal or the front of a graduation stole. If you prefer not to place pins on your cap and don’t have a stole or ribbon, pins can be placed directly on your robes along the collar.

For any type of college graduation pin, it’s a good idea to double-check with the school to make sure you have the right placement lined up before the ceremony. Nursing graduation pins, for example, are traditionally awarded during pinning ceremonies before graduation and are only worn on the lapel or collar. Once you know where the pins will be attached, you can start to consider the size and shape of your pins, as well as the attachment option you think will work best.

Graduation cap pins can be larger in size because there will be enough space available and the cap is less likely to be overly weighed down by a larger pin. Our average pin size is about 1.25”, but we’ve created oversized pins as large as 3” that make a big impression even from a distance. If you plan on securing your lapel pins to a tassel, ribbon or stole, sticking to an average size will make sure they don’t weigh down any piece of your regalia.

The design of many graduation pins is focused on club or school emblems, but there are all kinds of ways to help your pins stand out from the crowd. Custom shaped pins have the potential to capture the spirit of graduation in a more meaningful way than a traditional school emblem or seal, making them even more special to the people receiving them. Medical school and nursing graduation pins are often shaped like the caduceus, and many universities create mascot-shaped pins.

A couple of fun ways to make an extra special design are to create pins in the form of graduation caps with tassel shaped danglers or diploma scrolls with the graduation year inscribed on the parchment. The potential for custom shapes is limitless, so have some fun and see what kind of interesting designs you can come up with during the revision process.

Fraternities and sororities are well known for their custom shaped pins as well. While the artwork for a fraternity pin or sorority pin will almost always have the chapter’s Greek letters included somewhere in the design, they still find ways to make each pin unique. Gemstones are sometimes included to differentiate between the pins awarded to graduates and alumni, club officers and new pledges.

College graduation pins are a fun, celebratory gift that honors the achievements of students. Adding a unique sense of personality with a custom shape or a combination of custom options is a great way to make sure your design is meaningful and memorable to each recipient.

Getting Started on Your Own Custom Graduation Pins

Whether you need a set of college graduation pins, a shield pin designed for police academy graduates, a caduceus pin for nursing school graduates, or anything else in between, we’ve got you covered. Our Signature Pins team has been in the business of making one-of-a-kind lapel pin designs since the year 2000. All you need to get started are a few ideas and to fill out a free quote form on our website.

The quote form is the best place to let us know what kind of design you need, your preferred attachment option, and what kind of custom options you think will make the design extra special like gemstones, cut outs or even glitter enamel. Our art team will set to work creating a unique design based on your ideas and have your first free proof ready within 48 hours.

Revisions are free, so be sure to let us know how we can improve the design. Once everything is perfect, we can finalize your order. Shipping is included on every order, so as soon as production is complete, your pins will be on your doorstep within days. Give us a call today and see for yourself what makes Signature Pins the best custom pin maker online.