Before finalizing these guidelines, Milford Schools consulted with the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement, as well as reviewed university research and recommendations from academic experts. Our decisions are grounded in best practices designed to support the well-being of all students while honoring those we have lost. Both The Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board and National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement have reviewed and approved the language and intent of the statement below.
Graduation is a special time to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of our students. We also understand it can be a time to remember classmates who are no longer with us.
Milford High School has a thoughtful procedure in place to honor the memory of students who pass away before graduation, ensuring the moment is handled with care and respect while keeping the focus on celebrating the graduating class.
The following guidelines will be followed to honor deceased students:
A parent or guardian must make a request to the high school principal if they would like their student recognized during the ceremony.
The student’s name will be printed in the graduation program and read aloud at a designated time during the ceremony.
An honorary diploma, along with a cap and tassel, will be presented privately to the family.
A dedicated section will be added to the yearbook or a supplemental insert to respectfully list all students who passed while part of our school community at no cost to families
School photos may be included; personal photos are best shared in private memorials.
Photos may be included if they reflect shared school experiences, such as class or activity photos.
It is important that all student deaths are recognized equally, regardless of the cause. Using different approaches based on the circumstances of a student’s passing could unintentionally cause additional pain or reinforce stigma. At the same time, we understand the importance of protecting the emotional well-being of our students. Because adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the risk of suicide contagion, any recognition will be respectful, appropriate, and carefully designed not to glamorize or romanticize suicide.
Why Not a Chair or Other Recognition at Graduation?
Milford Exempted Village School District is proud of the mental health supports and suicide prevention systems we have in place. We do not shy away from this topic and encourage students to have open conversations in a safe and supportive environment. After any tragic event, the district offers grief counseling, and students always have access to their school counselors for support. Additionally, our Sources of Strength student leaders work throughout the district to promote healthy conversations around mental health and peer support.
Graduation is a time of celebration—a moment to recognize the hard work and dedication our students have shown throughout their academic journey. While we will honor all lives lost in our Milford community by reading their names aloud during a designated section of the ceremony, we must balance respect with the primary purpose of celebrating the graduating class.
Formal commemoration, such as leaving an empty chair or other symbolic displays, can unintentionally glorify suicide and increase the risk of suicide contagion. This is especially concerning for students who may already be struggling with their mental health. While these gestures are made with good intentions, they can sometimes have unintended consequences, including triggering additional grief or encouraging harmful behavior among vulnerable students. After seeing the attention garnered for the deceased student, a depressed student may want to attract the same attention for themselves and attempt self-harm.
If choosing not to participate in certain memorials has the potential to save even one student’s life, we as a District believe it is our responsibility to take that action.
Milford Schools remains committed to finding meaningful and safe ways to remember students—ways that celebrate their lives, the impact they made, and the community they helped build. We are a family at Milford, and we will continue working together to support, remember, and care for every student.
For more information please refer to this document from MindPeace on Best Practice Tips for Responding to a Student Death During Graduation Season.