Registration Deadline is March 31
(CSTHEA Membership Fee of $20 Due by December 31, 2025, to receive the Member Discount)

Late Registration deadline is April 1st
This will include a $25 late fee and will be subject to cap and gown availability.

Graduates and Graduate Parents, please look through the next section for
Graduation Opportunities that must be completed by various deadlines!

The diplomas presented during our ceremony are for ceremonial purposes only. You will need to request your graduate’s official diploma from their Umbrella/Church Related School or their Registered School District.

The two signature lines on the CSTHEA diploma may be signed by the persons of your choosing. Our CSTHEA President and Vice President may sign, or you as the parents/teachers may sign, or a combination of both.

The CSTHEA Diploma will come with a Diploma Cover.

Caps, gowns, and tassels are included in the registration costs.

Caps are one sized. Bobby pins can be helpful.

Gowns are sized by height. Please re-measure your graduate. It is amazing how fast they grow! The most accurate measurement is usually taken by standing with their bare feet against a wall.

Caps and Gowns are Royal Blue and the Tassels are Golden Yellow.

Caps, gowns, and tassels will be given out at rehearsal, not before.

Outstanding students are graduating students who have been active in CSTHEA, their church, and their community. They have exhibited leadership and service, while also maintaining high academic standards. These students may be nominated by parents, religious leaders, activity directors, coaches, and even other students! All graduates are also welcome to submit their names to the committee for consideration, as well.

A $500 “One Time” Scholarship Grant will be awarded to each of the two students selected and will be presented at graduation.

Our selection for outstanding students is based on the following criteria:

• Participation in CSTHEA sponsored activities/groups
• Must take part in CSTHEA’s graduation ceremony
• Must be a member of CSTHEA
• Must attend Homeschool Rally Day Ceremony, where recognized at the Capitol in March (exact date TBD)

Outstanding Student Nominations are due by January 15th

Outstanding Student Nomination Form

Graduates may submit outlines to be considered for one of the two graduate speeches given at graduation. These outlines must be submitted through this form by March 1st.

We love to highlight our graduates with special musical abilities at the graduation ceremony. Please use this form to upload audio and video auditions by March 15th to be considered.

Graduates will be recognized in a special way by a parent or guardian. You may submit information about the Graduate using a provided form that will be available soon. There will also be example Profile Submissions for you to get an idea of the style and spirit of these submissions. We look forward to celebrating your graduates and families by getting to know more about them in this way.

Graduates may create a display of their selves and their achievements to be set up at graduation. These displays may be the size of a card table. Examples will be uploaded closer to the graduation date.

Friday, May 15, 2026
6 pm – 8 pm

• Graduation Rehearsal is required for all graduating students and at least one parent or guardian.
• Caps and Gowns will be handed out to graduates during the rehearsal.
• Graduation Boards will be allowed to be set up after rehearsal.
• No seats may be reserved during or after rehearsal. Any reserved signs will be removed. Please see the “Reserved Seats” tab for information about when you may start to reserve seats for your family and friends.

There is parking in the parking garage attached to The Chattanooga Convention Center, in lots around The Convention Center, and limited parking on the street. Please allot sufficient time for parking.

Tickets are not required for guests to our ceremony.

If your group is rather large, please consider splitting up into smaller sections for immediate family to sit nearer their graduates.

Reserving seats for family friends is allowed, but with the listed restrictions.

Please be considerate of others who would also like to see their graduates.

• Seats may only be reserved starting the morning of graduation.
  (You may not put any reserved signs on seats during or after the rehearsal on Friday. If signs are put on seats before Saturday morning, they will be removed.)
• Reserved signs may be placed on the number of chairs in your total party only. Please do not reserve seats for extra seats as “buffers” between your party and others.
• If your party is extremely large, please consider having some extended family and friends sit towards the back to allow others to see their graduates more easily.
• Please note seats reserved for graduates, members of the choir, and other attendees who may have special seating.

There will be a photographer available before the ceremony for photos. The photographer will also take group photos, photos of the ceremony, of the graduate with parents/guardians coming off of the stage, and of the cap toss.

Sign-ups and information will be available closer to the event date.