Red coats vs blue coats

A Major part of the DeMatha tradition is freshman and sophomores wearing blue blazers and junior and seniors wearing crimson blazers. The different color blazers signify not only ones grade level, but status, privileges and responsibilities.

Although the blue coats and red coats may clearly separate the under classman and upper classman, the sense of brotherhood at DeMatha is still apparent, despite the age and grade difference. This brotherhood is built up through an inclusive culture established by bonding experiences such as religious retreats, band trips as well as group activities such as sports games and house competition.

The first two years of a DeMatha student’s experience are marked with many lessons that help prepare a blue coat to become a red coat. A blue coat does not have as much freedom as a redcoat in certain regards such as during homeroom and interim. That freedom has to be earned over the first two years at DeMatha.

After completing his first two years at DeMatha, a student trades in his blue coat for a crimson coat. These new redcoats are now preparing for one of the most important days in their lives, graduation. With their graduation, current seniors will join a vast network of fellow DeMatha alumni who love to work and interact with other former Stags. This interaction could be a possible internship during college or a recommendation to a colleague about their fellow Stag. Many students, after graduating will be going to colleges all across the country, using the abilities they have gained at DeMatha to help them succeed both academically and socially in their new setting.

Whether a former Stag is going across the country to a school such as the University of Southern California, or right down the road to Maryland, DeMatha will have given them all the tools and experiences they need to thrive in their college environment over both the blue coat and the red coat stage of their education.