Larry Zelisko is a columnist and the content editor at the Abilene Reporter-News. His column, "Larry The Answer Guy," responds to reader-submitted questions on a wide range of topics.
In today's column a reader asked, What is a baccalaureate service?
"The word can be traced to the Latin words "bacca lauri," it means "laurel berry." Crowns of laurels were given by the Greeks and the Romans to winners of sporting events and nowadays laurels are accolades given to someone for an achievement," Zelisko said.
"Today when we say baccalaureate service we are talking about a service held before graduation in many places including the Abilene and Wylie school districts," Zelisko said. "It's usually an optional event, the kids get to wear their caps and gowns and they are given a speech or a religious sermon in which they are inspired and motivated to do great things."
