Reply To: Is a graduation ceremony avoda zara?

I think the phrase is “Hukas Goyim”. The only aspect of an American school graduation that might be Avodah Zarah would be the statement by a usually Christian clergy person (the “invocation”)-and if that is your standard many government functions would be banned. There is also some reason to suspect that Yidden have historically celebrated accomplishments (more likely with food and drink than with a boring ceremony).