By Megha Lakha
When it comes to high school graduation, two universal things come to mind: Caps and Gowns. Earlier this semester, I was thinking back on graduation last year and remembered that Lovett, unlike other schools, doesn’t have caps and gowns at graduation.
I thought this Lovett tradition was a bit outdated and personally, I would want to wear a cap and gown at my graduation in 2026. I decided to talk to a few seniors for their opinions on this topic as their graduation is approaching. And I checked in with Ms. Hooker, the twelfth-grade dean, to get her take on why we do what we do.
Almost every senior I talked to said they wanted to wear a cap and gown at graduation. Allie Steel said she “always envisioned wearing a cap and gown at graduation.” Burke Volkmann agreed and said, “I feel like it’s the more accepted thing to do because I feel like that’s the symbol and uniform of graduating.” He also noted that other private schools like Pace and Westminister wear caps and gowns and that Lovett is the only school that doesn’t participate in this practice.
When I asked Brooke Babbit if she liked the idea of wearing a cap and a gown, she said, “Oh, 100 percent because I feel like it’s a common high school tradition.” Sarah Britton Givens was sitting next to her and nodded in agreement.
Tatum Hunt, however, was a little iffy about the idea but ultimately leaned toward the idea of caps and gowns. “Well, I feel like we shouldn’t change traditions, but I wish it were cap and gown. Like it doesn’t feel like we graduated in a white little dress.”
While Burke would prefer caps and gowns, he doesn’t feel like they will make or break graduation. “I feel like it wouldn’t make too much of a difference. I think I would prefer to wear them,” he said, “but wearing a suit instead doesn’t change the overall experience.” Noelle, on the other hand, says that she “would feel more like a senior, and it would be more rewarding.”
Every senior (and student) that I’ve spoken to associates graduation with Disney’s High School Musical movie series. “They threw their caps in the air in High School Musical, so I feel like it would be fun,” Brooke reflected. She also added that many coming-of-age movies and TV shows, like Gossip Girl, reference when you throw your cap up.
I wondered why Lovett has this tradition, so I talked to Ms. Hooker to get some more information. Ms. Hooker said that students have made arguments for caps and gowns in the past, but “there’s never been an overwhelming push.” She said the administration has asked the students before, but not recently. “The last time the conversation was brought up as a big picture it may have been three or four years ago,” she said, so that’s why Mrs. Cole chose to stick with what Lovett originally had.
Ms. Hooker has never heard any arguments for change from Lovett’s parents, but she has “heard comments from parents about just caps, which is kind of awkward to me, but there have been very few.”
Ms. Hooker admitted that she doesn’t know why Lovett doesn’t have caps and gowns. “I think it may have to do with Lovett’s first-ever graduating class and just continues as a Lovett tradition,” she said. “I think at one point they may have actually worn caps and gowns, but I can’t say for sure.”
I wondered what her take on the issue was, and she explained that she was neutral on the matter. “I wore a cap and gown outside at a graduation before, and it was hot,” she said. “I think it’s just hot, so personally, I know that would be a consideration for myself, but I understand why students are drawn to it.”
Overall, our seniors can almost all agree that caps and gowns are an iconic and important part of graduating, but it won’t exactly change the whole vibe of graduation. And who knows? Maybe in the future, Lovett will have caps and gowns at Graduation.
For now, we’ll have to be satisfied with walking across the stage in our blazers and gray pants and white dresses. After all, the diploma is the real measure of a successful graduation.
