PLANO -- National Honor Society (NHS) stoles are frequent sight at high school graduation ceremonies around the country, but one Plano Senior High School student is frustrated that he won't be allowed to wear one when he puts on his cap and gown next month.
According to school practices, students are not allowed to wear NHS regalia.
Garrett Frederick has been a National Honor Society member since his sophomore year, dedicating himself to maintaining a high GPA and performing community service hours.
"I'm not just an honor student -- I'm an NHS student. I worked hard. I put in the hours," Frederick said, explaining that he committed to 20 hours of community service every semester.
National Honor Society members frequently wear white satin stoles with an NHS seal during graduation ceremonies to mark their commitment.
Until recently, Frederick thought he'd be able to wear one.
"I was really looking forward to wearing it and being able to say I was a part of it, because I have friends that go to [Plano East High School] and [Plano West High School], and they're all wearing it," he said. "So it's like, I don't know why we're not allowed to wear it. I don't get it."
Frederick's mom is frustrated, too.
She wrote the principal of the school and said she got a message back, saying that graduates do not wear any club or organizational regalia.
KellyAnn Frederick says a National Honor Society sponsor claimed school administrators want everyone to feel included in graduation and not single students out.
"They deserve it," KellyAnn said. "They worked so hard for it. If you choose not to work that hard, then that's okay! I wasn't an NHS kid. I didn't wear the NHS stole when I graduated. But friends of mine did, and I was OK!"
The school district confirmed the practice on Tuesday, and that it differs from nearby Plano West and Plano East High Schools, where students do wear NHS stoles.
At Plano Senior High, students with a GPA of 3.6 or higher can wear a plain honor stole, but not the National Honor Society stole that signifies both grades and community service.
Garrett says he and his friends in National Honor Society have considered starting a petition or talking to the principal, even though he thinks it's too late for his own graduation ceremony.
Still, he hopes the policy can change so in the future other Plano Senior High students can share in a national tradition.
"It's kind of a national thing that's recognized, so I don't know why just Plano can't recognize it," he said.
