As graduation approaches, Emmie Huynh ’27 is introducing a new tradition by creating leis for all 67 members of the Class of 2026. Huynh began creating graduation leis for seniors with whom she was close in the Class of 2024. This year, she expanded the gesture to the entire graduating class.
“I’ve been doing this for the past two years. But I thought for this year, since there’s so many seniors that I wanted to give it to, I might as well just do it for every single senior,” said Huynh.
Huynh approached Chris LaTempa, Director of College Counseling, earlier this spring to seek support for her project, both for information on which college each senior is committed to and for financial support.
“Any time our students come to us with a creative idea that is going to support fellow community members, we like to support that however we can,” said LaTempa.
LaTempa added that he enjoyed “the community’s love and support for our graduating seniors, and honoring [each senior’s] individuality in terms of a specifically colored lei that represents their next chapter.”
Leis were first introduced to the Hawaiian Islands by Tahitian voyagers between the eighth and fourteenth centuries, and were originally made of flowers, shells, feathers, and other local fauna. Traditionally, leis have been used in sacred ceremonies and celebrations as a symbol of honor and respect.
Huynh’s leis are created by looping two ribbon colors together, alternating which is on the bottom and which is on top, and then tying a knot at each end. Each lei is created using ribbons in the colors of each student’s college commitment. After, the leis are customized with each senior’s name and their graduating year.
Since a large quantity of leis needed to be made, Huynh has asked other MFS community members to help her with the process. Maya Sevrin ’27 has been helping to make leis after school for the project.
“Making a lei for some of my favorite seniors is fun because it’s hopefully something [they will] remember me by, and something they will keep as a memory of graduation day,” said Sevrin.
“The whole process allows you to reflect on the senior you’re making it for, and I think about my memories and my experiences with the senior who’s going to get it every time I make a lei,” said Huynh.
Huynh has worked with Will Miller, US Dean of Students, to coordinate a time to distribute the leis. They plan on gathering all of the seniors in Stokes Courtyard before the commencement ceremony to perform a lei crowning ceremony.
Looking ahead, Huynh hopes that the tradition can remain at the school for future graduates.
“If the school can continue to support this project, I think it’d be a really sweet tradition in the future,” said Huynh.
