Highlands Varsity Letters

Here at Highlands High school, if a student participates in a sport or extracurricular activity at the varsity level, they may receive a letter if they meet the criteria. This sacred tradition has been going on for over 75 years, and parts of it have changed over the years, while the main idea still remains.

Not only do the letters show how dedicated athletes are and how much effort you put into your sport, they also have a major social aspect here at Highlands. “...showing spectators that you participated at the varsity level at Highlands, which is our highest level you can obtain here,” Caldwell said.

Over time, the tradition of the varsity letters has evolved and had some slight changes. Not only have their social values changed from being presented publicly, (such as being worn on letterman jackets or sweaters) to often just being prized in private (hung up in their bedroom). Varsity athletes in the 50’s and 60’s were a part of the prestigious Letterman Club. Simple things like their physical appearances and designs have evolved too. In the early 1950s, our varsity letters came with more detail and were made to be more specific to someone’s sport or activity, and the shiny, metal pins were there to show more identifying details about what the student participated in. For example, one of our artifacts from Roger Hass, class of 1951, came in the shape of a lyre, which is meant to represent how he was involved in the band. The specific detail makes each letter feel special. But around 12 years later in the early 1960s, the varsity letters can be seen solely in the shape of the Highlands H. Most of the detail that went into the letters previously had now gone into the pins that the students would attach to their letter. Students still receive letters with a similar design like Tom Jones received in 1963. 

Another way to see the effort that goes into earning these letters is by counting the stripes on the letter, which symbolize the amount of years they have played. As every athlete knows you have to practice to keep from losing your edge. You have to spend countless hours practicing your sport, and doing that through several years. Juggling multiple sports at a time truly shows the dedication required to earn these letters. “That was my first varsity letter in 7th grade, so I earned the most letters in swimming starting so young with that,” Barre said.

The rich history and tradition of the varsity letters has changed, but what they symbolize is still the same. Even though some parts of the tradition will change like its physical appearance or how they are earned, the varsity letters will always be an important part of society here at Highlands. As Caldwell says, “I think it’s a very historic tradition, and once again a lot of things at Highlands have a lot of tradition or background to it, but I think it’s really great to keep that tradition alive.”