High schooler barred from wearing military stole at graduation: ‘I felt betrayed’
MESA, Ariz. (KTVK/KPHO/Gray News) - An Arizona high school senior says she’s ready to serve her country, but officials told her she can’t wear her military stole at graduation.
Daniela Rascon-Rivas will graduate from Mesa High School on Thursday. She wants to show her classmates that she enlisted in the Arizona National Guard by wearing the military stole she received.
“It would mean a lot. It would show my classmates that I am enlisted in the Army, and I am fighting for them, keeping our country safe from foreign and domestic enemies,” she said.
But officials say Rascon-Rivas can’t wear her stole during the ceremony. The senior says a school brought her down to the office last week to explain the district policy against it.
“I was disheartened. I was disappointed. I felt betrayed,” Rascon-Rivas said.
Mesa High said in a statement that district policy encourages unity at graduation “by limiting adornments on graduation attire.” While stoles are not allowed during the ceremony, the school says it “absolutely encourages families to bring their student’s stoles for photos and celebrations after the event.”
Rascon-Rivas says she sees no point in wearing her stole after graduation.
“The point of me wearing these stoles and cords is so that my classmates can see what I have accomplished and the accolades I have collected,” she said.
Her father, Jose Rascon, is also expressing disappointment over the policy.
“When I got notice that she cannot wear the stole, that broke my heart,” he said.
Rascon-Rivas started a petition to allow stoles and cords at graduation that’s gotten the attention of school board member Rachel Walden.
“You get that one shot where you go up, grab your diploma and do the handshake for the photo,” Walden said. “If she has her National Guard stole on, that’s going to make the night more meaningful for her. I think there’s no reason she shouldn’t be able to do that.”
Walden thinks the superintendent should step in and order the school istration to allow the military stoles on Thursday.
“If they have to pull rank, then that’s what needs to be done,” she said. “Then, we can address it permanently going forward by writing it into policy, if my colleagues on the board agree.”
The full statement from Mesa Public Schools reads as follows:
“Mesa Public Schools deeply values and honors the service of our military and enlisted students. Mesa High upholds a longstanding tradition of unity at graduation, in alignment with district policy 5-217.D and state law ARS 15-348, that promotes uniformity during the ceremony by limiting adornments on graduation attire. While stoles, including military, are not worn during the formal ceremony, Mesa High absolutely encourages families to bring their student’s stoles for photos and celebrations after the event.”
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