Information for Seniors

Senior Dues: $180

• Includes the cost of:
  • Graduation ceremony venue 
  • Cap, gown & tassel 
  • Graduation program 
  • Diploma and cover 
  • Senior short-sleeved shirt if paid by January 30th, 2026
  • All other senior activities
• In order to participate in graduation activities, this must be paid
• After February 1st there is a $25 late fee & delivery of cap & gown may be delayed
• Payment options:
  • Pay in full at scholasticimages.com OR
  • Payment Plan offered by Paul Duke STEM
    • Pay in three installments of $60 on MyPaymentsPlus
    • Makes payment flexible and easy to find
    • Payments due: 10/31, 1/30, and 3/6
    • MUST sign up by 9/26 to get on the Payment Plan
      • Please use this if you have any concerns about making a full payment as there are no other alternatives!

Yard Sign: $25

Purchase a yard sign announcing your senior’s graduation on Successfund! More info coming soon! The final day to purchase is on April 3, 2026. Yard Signs will be sent home at the end of April.

All seniors have had a senior picture scheduled. They will receive notices as well as an email with their scheduled time.

The ONLY on-campus dates are September 12 and September 26.

If the day and time on your notice does NOT work for you, you can reschedule by calling the studio.
BPI Photography - Cumming, GA
(770) 887-3080

Please let Ms. O'Connor know if you have questions or concerns.

Senior Tributes can be purchased on Succesfund using the link below:

Successfund: Senior Tributes

Please let Ms. O'Connor know if you have questions or concerns.

• Purchase on Successfund
  • $65 until 9/30/25
  • $70 until 12/31/25
• We do not order extra copies - buy yours today on Successfund

Contact: Mrs. O'Connor for more information.

MANDATORY! 

• Missed practice = not walking in the ceremony
• Do not bring your cap & gown.

When? 

• Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 7:00 a.m.  

Where? 

• Paul Duke STEM High School Gym

Number of tickets for each graduate: TBD (typically 6-8)

• Gas South’s policy is “children under 24 months do not require a ticket to enter. However, in order for a child to have his/her own seat, a ticket is required.”  This policy also applies to infant carriers.

• Tickets will be distributed at the end of graduation practice.
  • Must meet requirements (see below).
  • Lost, damaged, and/or stolen tickets will not be replaced.
  • No extra tickets will be available.
  • Paul Duke STEM will not facilitate ticket exchanges or “sales”

Requirements:

1. Must have paid Senior Dues.
2. Must attend graduation practice Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 7am
3. Graduation tickets will be withheld from seniors who have outstanding books, fees, fines, and/or items.
   • Most outstanding items/fees are listed in StudentVue or MyPaymentsPlus (you may need to click fees).

When?  

• TBD
  • Seniors will arrive at 8:30am and no later than 9am
  • Doors for family, friends, and guests open 1 hour prior at 9am.

Where?

• Gas South Exhibit Halls C/D

Seniors:

• Before you leave for the arena checklist:
  • Cap, Gown, Stole, Tassel
    • All other non-Paul Duke STEM issued stoles / cords / sashes / tassels will be confiscated.
  • Be mindful of traffic and the time it will take for you to park and get seated.
• Arrive by 8:30am and enter through the first doors as you come down the escalators.
• Do not have your gown zipped, you will be checked for cell phones.
• Do not bring in cell phones.  They will be confiscated and can be picked up at the end of the ceremony.
• Do not decorate your caps/gowns.  All caps and gowns must be plain.

Parents / Guardians / Guests:

• Doors open at 9am - guests can enter the arena through the second set of doors with your tickets in hand.
• After the ceremony, meet graduates outside in the terrace area.
• Gas South District is an ADA compliant facility. There is wheelchair and handicapped access to the exhibit halls as well as seating in the exhibit halls. For parking, there are handicapped spaces in the deck.

Please be aware of Gas South Arena's CLEAR BAG POLICY for all attendees.

• Dress Appropriately:
  • Males:  
    • Any color dress pants or khakis (no holes/fraying)
      1. no joggers nor pants with elastic at the bottom
    • Collared shirt (plain or with subtle print or stripes)
      1. no t-shirts
    • Any color dress shoes; Leather Sperry or Sperry-like shoes are allowed
      1. no canvas shoes
    • NO jeans, tennis shoes, or flip flops
    • Minimal/simple jewelry (necklaces and bracelets may not show outside the gown)
  • Females:  
    • A dress OR blouse and full-length dress slacks (no capris/crop length).  
    • Flats or low heels.  Heels must have a strap around the back of the foot or around the ankle. 
      1. Be sure to break-in shoes.  There will be lots of walking. Consider wearing the shoes to last day of finals or graduation practice.
    • NO dresses with collars
    • NO jeans, tennis shoes, or flip flops
    • Minimal/simple jewelry (necklaces and bracelets may not show outside the gown)

• High school graduating seniors (Honor Grads) who have an overall “A” cumulative average, 90.0 (not rounded) or greater and have not accumulated 5 or more absences for the semester, will be exempt from taking 2nd semester local final examinations for the second semester except when an EOC Assessment is required. EXCEPTION: If the student is FAILING a specific course they must take the final exam in that course. 
• High school graduating seniors who have an “A” average, 90.0 (not rounded) or greater and have not accumulated 5 or more absences for the semester, in a specific course, may be exempt from taking a local second semester final examination on a course by course basis.
  Please know that students cannot have more than 5 absences and exempt exams. The 5 absences is the total of excused and unexcused absences in a given class.

What is an absence?

• 10 minutes tardy = Absent or AWOL
• Field trips do not count-- you are technically present
• An absence is an absence (excused OR unexcused).

Paul Duke STEM High School recognizes students who receive honors from select Gwinnett County-affiliated organizations. This year, we are awarding the following scholarships:

• PTSA College and University Scholarship ($1000)—The Paul Duke STEM High School PTSA is the certifying body for this scholarship. Students must meet minimum criteria for the Award.  Additional information can be found on the PTSA website or in the PDS counseling office
• PTSA Technical College Scholarship ($1000)—The Paul Duke STEM High School PTSA is the certifying body for this scholarship.  Students must meet minimum criteria for the Award.  Additional information can be found on the PTSA website or in the PDS counseling office
• Antonowich Volunteer Service Award and Scholarship ($500)—The Paul Duke STEM High School PTSA is the certifying body for the Antonowich Volunteer Service Award.  Students must meet minimum criteria for the Award.  Additional information can be found on the PTSA website or in the PDS counseling office.
• Wetherington Trailblazer Award and Scholarship ($250)—The Paul Duke STEM High School PTSA is the certifying body for the Antonowich Volunteer Service Award.  Students must meet minimum criteria for the Award.  Additional information can be found on the PTSA website or in the PDS counseling office.

• AP Scholar - Green and White Cord. Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams
• AP Scholar with Honor - Green and Silver cord. Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
• AP Scholar with Distinction - Green and Gold cord. Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
• National Honor Society—a gold-draped stole bearing the PDS emblem.  Membership is achieved by having at least a 94 cumulative average, exhibiting great character, participating in service activities, and taking on leadership roles
• Governor’s Honors Program—GHP Cord from DOE. Seniors must qualify and complete the summer GHP experience
• Senior Experience and Exhibition (SEE)— Purple, Gold, and Silver Cord. Seniors must successfully complete all the requirements of the PDS SEE Program and have >90% attendance during their senior year.
• Technical Education Pathway Completer—Purple, Silver, and White Cord.  Seniors who have completed three or four credits in a specific Career and Technical Education Pathway and passed their EOPA.
• Student Government/Student Council—Green Cord, representing the vitality of a true servant leader.  The award embodies student leaders who have gone above and beyond the call in service to others.  It exemplifies the true spirit of giving back to the community through approved service projects.
• Community Service Cord—Purple and Gold Cord.  Seniors who engage in at least 250 hours of community service during their high school career qualify for a community service cord. 
• Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society—Light Blue and Gold Cord, earned by seniors who fulfill math team competition requirements and complete at least ten hours of service through math tutoring.
• National English Honor Society (Sigma Tau Delta)—Royal Blue and Maize Cord symbolizes creativity, inspiration, excellence, and nobility of spirit.  The NEHS motto, “gelast sceal mid are,” is Old English for “duty goes with honor”.  Service to peers, school, and community are required for earning the cord for NEHS.
• National French Honor Society—Blue, White and Red Cord, the same colors as the French flag.  Students must be in French II or higher and have attained and maintained an A in French classes and a B overall.  Students participate in 10 hours of French-related activities each year.
• Spanish National Honors Society—"Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica"; Red and Gold Cords.  Students who receive a cord have maintained a 90 or above average in Spanish classes and have participated in 7 hours of Spanish-related activities per semester.
• National Science Honor Society - Science National Honors Society cord colors are Green, Purple, and Gold.  SNHS is a prominent scientific organization that will engender a new group of young thinkers who will be the future of industry, research, and scientific exploration.
• National Art Honor Society—Rainbow Cord, consisting of both primary and secondary colors.  NAHS is an organization for inspiring and recognizing those students who have shown an outstanding ability in art.  The NAHS strives toward the attainment of the highest standards in fine arts and to bring art education to the attention of the school and community.  
• National Computer Science Honor Society—Light Blue Cord.  The purpose of CSHS is to encourage students’ enthusiasm for computer science, to honor academic excellence, and to promote service.
• National Green Schools Society - Green/Silver/Gold Honor Stole. The NGSS (National Green Schools Society) is an environmental honor society for students in grades 5–12, run by Project Green Schools. Unlike traditional honor societies, induction is based on environmental stewardship and service hours.
• Student Leadership Team (SLT)—Lime Green Cord. Four Continuous semesters of service on Paul Duke STEM SLT. Selected students learn valuable leadership lessons and use their training to better the school and the activities they are involved in. 
• Gwinnett Student Leadership Team (GSLT)—Navy Blue, Gold, and White Cord.  Members represent their schools in a high-level program, which exposes them to some of the same leadership training opportunities afforded to corporate leaders nationwide.  We are proud of our GSLT members who have brought their training back to the students of PDS.
• Beta Club—Black and Gold Cord, representing dignity, restraint, seriousness, friendship and brotherhood.  Students in 10th-12th grades with an overall GPA of 92 or above are invited to join.  Seniors earn a cord by meeting service requirements.
• DECA—Blue and white graduation cords with the DECA emblem. Two years of active membership in DECA.
  Technical Student Association (TSA) — TSA chord is a braided chord of Red, Whites, and Blue. Two years of active membership in TSA.
• Journalism—At least two complete years of enrollment in yearbook course, Journalism I and II with grades of 90 or higher.
• Music (Band or Orchestra)—Music chord is a single pink chord. You need to have been in band/orchestra for all eight semesters of high school.
• Tri-M National Music Honors Society - Tri-M Chord is a double-braided pink chord. You need to have fulfilled your duties as a Tri-M member for at least two consecutive years. Tri-M is designed to recognize students for their academic and musical achievements, reward them for their accomplishments, and to inspire other students to excel.
• International Thespian Society - The International Thespian Society is the only theatre honor society for middle and high school students in the United States. Our cords are blue and gold. 
• CyberPatriot Cybersecurity - Complete the Cybersecurity pathway and become an active member as a senior and achieve Gold/Platinum rank or Semifinals with their team or be an active member for three years. Cord is black, white, and green.
• HoPe - Must meet these requirements: be an official paid HoPe Member and have a weighed 3.0 GPA, and either be a Legacy Leader in good standing, attended 6 HoPe General Meetings, and completed 25 hours of community service with HoPe. HoPe cord is dual color black and gold.
• Print Shop & Graphic Design: Students receiving a Print Shop Honors Cord must meet the following:  Complete three (3) years of graphic design, maintain a 3.0 GPA average in Graphic Design, pass the EOPA for Graphic Design, and completed a 120-hour internship at the Print Shop. Cord Color: Cyan (or a blue color) - for creativity and balance.
• Work-Based Learning: Silver cord. Students must meet all three of the following qualifications: 2 years of Work-Based Learning participation (Junior and Senior year), completion of a CTAE pathway, and an average of 90 or above in Work-Based Learning.
   

• Valedictorian—Graduating Senior who has the highest GPA in the graduating class at the end of the Fall Semester.
• Salutatorian—Senior who has the second highest GPA in the graduating class. 
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cup—Presented to a senior who stands out above the rest and is a pleasure to teach.  The student excels in academics and community activities and stands out as a leader.  The faculty nominates students for this honor and then votes for their choice.
• Principal Trailblazer Award—Teachers nominate students who have performed well academically and who exhibit positive traits such as strong character, leadership, and/or acts of service that impact the classroom and the school positively.  Recipients of this award have accepted the challenge and have risen up! 
• Departmental Awards—Each department develops individual criteria for honoring students at each grade level and overall for performance in the subject area.  
• Academic Letters and Lamps—Students can qualify for an academic letter by maintaining a GPA of 90 or above over the previous two consecutive semesters and participating in extracurricular activities at Paul Duke STEM.  Students who have not previously lettered are given a letter; students who have lettered are given an academic lamp or bar.
• Honor Graduates—Honor graduates have a 90 or above cumulative GPA.
• All A’s in grades K-12 

• National French Contest Medals—The Grand Concourse, or National French Contest, is an annual competitive exam sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French.  Students of French in grades 1-12, in all 50 states and abroad, take a written test and compete against students with similar educational background for prizes. 
• National Merit Scholarship Program—Conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the National Merit Program is a nationwide competition for recognition and awards based on a student’s score achieved on the PSAT taken in his/her junior year of high school.  
• National Achievement—Conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the National Achievement Program is an academic competition established to honor African American high school students.  Recognition and awards are based on a student’s performance on the PSAT in his/her junior year of high school.
• SAT/ACT Achievement Award—Students who have scored an 1500 or higher, in one sitting, on the SAT and or a composite score of 27 or higher, in one sitting, on the ACT.
• STAR Student—Awarded to the senior with the highest SAT score in one sitting who is also in the top 10% of the graduating class.  This award is sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE).  Students also choose a STAR teacher to receive recognition as well.
• AP Capstone Diploma or the AP Seminar and Research Certificate—Gold Collar at Graduation
  • Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing receive the AP Capstone Diploma.
  • Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research but not on four additional AP Exams receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
• AP Scholar Achievement Award—AP Scholar is a student who has earned a 3 or higher on three or more AP exams
• AP Scholar with Honor—AP Scholar with Honor is a student who has received an average score of 3.25 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams
• AP Scholar with Distinction—AP Scholar with Distinction has earned an average score of 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
• Georgia Scholar Program—To be selected as a Georgia Scholar, a student must be a graduating high school senior who exhibits excellence in all phases of school life, in community activities, and in the home. The Georgia Department of Education reviews the student’s SAT and ACT  scores, Grade Point Average (GPA), credits earned, along with their extracurricular activities and leadership initiatives in their local communities.

• Biliteracy Diploma Seal - The purpose of Georgia Seal of Biliteracy is to recognize high school graduates who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages in addition to English.  In order to qualify for the Georgia Seal of Biliteracy, a high school graduate shall meet the following criteria:
  • Completion of all English language arts requirements for graduation with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above in those classes; and
  • Proficiency in one or more languages other than English, demonstrated by passing a foreign language advanced placement examination with a score of 4 or higher or an international baccalaureate examination with a score of 5 or higher; provided, however, that for languages in which an advanced placement examination is not available, the Department of Education may provide a listing of equivalent summative examinations that local school systems may use in place of such an advanced placement examination
• Fine Arts Diploma Seal - The Fine Arts Diploma Seal is awarded to graduating high school students who complete a Georgia Fine Arts Pathway and engage in creative industry focus courses, extracurricular activities, and experiences that foster fine arts mastery. The diploma seal is a signal to employers and higher education institutions that a student is prepared to participate in the creative economy.
• Social Studies Civic Engagement Diploma Seal - The Social Studies Civic Engagement Seal is awarded to graduating high school students who complete the social studies requirements for graduation and engage in civic engagement activities. Student Eligibility Requirements are:
  • Satisfy the Social Studies requirements to earn a high school diploma
  • Pass the American Government Basic Skills Test (a subset of 56 questions from the USCIS Citizenship Test)
  • Complete 50 hours of voluntary participation in community service or extracurricular activities during the student’s high school career (participation can be counted starting the summer prior to 9th grade).
    1. Of the required service hours, a minimum of 15 hours must be obtained participating in civic engagement activities.
    2. Additional volunteer hours may be obtained through participation in charitable or service based organizations or school sponsored extracurricular activities
    3. All students can count previous volunteer experiences and civic engagement participation accumulated from their 9th to 12th grade years to meet service hour eligibility requirements.
       • NOTE: ANY STUDENT WHO ENLISTS IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY PRIOR TO GRADUATION WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE MET CRITERIA
    4. Capstone Portfolio Presentation - Students must present a capstone portfolio on the knowledge gained in social studies and/or civics/government related courses and activities listed above