TCAPS awards diplomas to veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam
On November 11, Traverse City Area Public Schools continued a multi year practice of issuing high school diplomas to veterans who left school to serve in World War II, Korea or Vietnam, honoring service and filling gaps in official records. The move is enabled by state law and allows families to apply for living or deceased veterans, while offering guidance for those who do not meet statutory requirements.
Traverse City Area Public Schools marked Veterans Day by presenting high school diplomas to veterans who left their studies to serve in World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War. The November 11 event continued a multi year program in the district that recognizes veterans whose military service interrupted their ability to complete traditional graduation requirements.
The district cited Michigan statutes that make the practice possible. Public Act 181 of 2001 and Public Act 55 of 2014 authorize local school districts to issue diplomas to former students who left school for military service and later qualify under the law. TCAPS Superintendent Dr. John VanWagoner participated in the observance as the district carried out the process for awarding diplomas to eligible veterans and their families.
Families may apply on behalf of living or deceased veterans, and the district requires applicants to submit paperwork that documents eligibility under the state statutes. The application process is managed through the school district, and officials provided information on how residents can apply following the Veterans Day ceremony. For veterans who do not meet the statutory requirements for a diploma, the district highlighted alternatives including the General Educational Development credential and local adult education programs.
Local impact is both symbolic and practical. For many veterans and their families the diplomas represent formal recognition of interrupted education and a public acknowledgment of sacrifice. The program also connects schools with multiple generations of the community, reinforcing civic ties and creating opportunities for students to learn about local military history firsthand. Administratively, issuing diplomas requires coordination of records and verification of service, tasks the district has performed in prior years as part of the program.
From a policy perspective, the state acts give districts a discretionary tool to reconcile individual service histories with educational credentials. The option to award diplomas decades after a veteran left school underscores broader discussions about how communities account for non traditional educational trajectories caused by national service. For residents in Grand Traverse County the program offers closure for families and a tangible way for schools to honor veterans during an annual observance.
Residents seeking more information on eligibility or how to apply can contact TCAPS directly for details on documentation and submission procedures. The district’s continuation of the program on November 11 maintained a local tradition of recognition and provided an official avenue for veterans to receive diplomas they were unable to obtain at the time they left school to serve.
