When I graduated from my master’s program, my parents purchased a beautiful frame for my diploma. I couldn’t believe that they would fork over close to $200 for something like that, but I had to admit, it did look rather fetching, and I was very proud to hang it up in my office.
In fact, shortly after beginning my professional career, I decided to make the investment in getting my bachelor’s degree framed, as well. Since I already had experienced what a positive feeling I had when I saw all my hard work beautifully framed, and since I worked for twice as many years to get my bachelor’s as my master’s, I decided it needed some recognition, too. I never regretted spending the money on the diploma frame.
A handful of months later, I asked Tim if he wanted his bachelor’s degree frame. He said he was completely uninterested. No big deal to me; I dropped it.
Then, in 2007, he earned his master’s degree in city planning and was employed as a planner. He had an office and everything. It was time to let his degree shine! I brought up the issue again, and once again, he shot it down. He just didn’t want to spend the money, plain and simple.
I decided not to drop the issue this time, and put on my “frugal gal” thinking cap and came up with a plan. You see, that same year, he earned the student of the year award in his department. He received a framed certificate. The certificate was the same size as his diploma. I decided I could just switch out the two certificates and then he’d have a free framed diploma! When something is free, you can easily overlook the fact that the matting is a horrid burt sienna color, right? RIGHT!!
So my DIY version of a framed diploma worked for about 3 days, and then the diploma itself started to move around inside the frame. I kept telling myself that I needed to take it off the wall and fix it. And fix it, I would! Someday…
Someday turned into 3 years, and for 3 years, Tim’s diploma sat in a very ugly frame, CROOKED. It looked absolutely terrible, and never even got hung up!
Then, a few months ago, it was time for us to move. I put it on the bed to wrap it up, and left it there for a few days, during which time our rather large cat decided it was the perfect place to sleep. She totally broke the frame with the weight of her body!
So now Tim’s diploma was ugly, crooked AND broken. What a tribute to all his hard work and to the degree that helps him provide for our family!
I decided enough was enough, and started my research on the best company for quality diploma frames. Church Hill Classics (also known as diplomaframe.com) had a spectacular selection, as well as a reputation for excellent customer service. Furthermore, this company offered several different choices for what a diploma frame for University of Memphis (Tim’s alma mater for his master’s degree) could look like. I believe we had 11 choices! I was extremely impressed with the options.
On top of all the frame selections, you can also customize the mouldings and mattings to get exactly the look you want. I think this is just fantastic, and is a far cry from Tim’s DIY frame that quickly went from thrifty and smart to ridiculously bad.
Tim selected the silver engraved medallion frame, and it has the emblem of the school at the top, along with the University of Memphis embossed along the bottom of the mat. The wood frame has a deep, rich color. It’s really quite spectacular. Check it out!
Do you have a high school or college degree that has never been framed, or that is framed but honestly looks really bad? It’s NEVER too late to put all your hard work proudly on display! Church Hill Classics can help you show off your diploma in style, whether you are graduating next year or gradated 20 years ago! Once Tim saw his diploma in this beautiful frame, he had to admit that it looked great, and he said that he wished he had done it a long time ago. Learn from our follies and get your degree framed properly!
I also want to point out that Church Hill Classics has a scholarship contest that will be launching in the fall, the “Frame My Future” Scholarship Contest, and they will be giving away $6,000 to 5 lucky winners! Details on the scholarship can be found at http://www.framemyfuture.com. To sign up to receive notification of when the giveaway will begin, click here. This is a really fun way to help pay for your education, so don’t miss out on the chance!
Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a diploma frame OF YOUR CHOICE!!!!!
Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary frame for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Lily Kwan says
Arroyo High School
Buddy Garrett says
Jackson County High School.
Sarah Yurga says
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, PA
ReggieMann says
Compton Senior High School
Compton, CA
meme says
south river high school
Nancy says
Lamar University
Cassie Rivera says
Columbia College. BS in Psychology
Angela Winesburg says
Towson University- BA in Psychology
Amanda R says
I earned my degree at Southern Illinois Univ. in Carbondale
Lisa L says
I attended the Bronx High School of Science
kathy pease says
i graduated from rutland high school
KIM CRAWFORD says
I GRADUATED FROM MUNISING HIGH SCHOOL AND ATTENDED NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY BUT I WANT THIS FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO IS GOING TO BE GRADUATING FROM NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY.
THANKS FOR THIS AMAZING GIVEAWAY AND WISH ME LUCK!
Amy Lee says
I’ll be getting my degree from UNC Wilmington in 4 months! I can’t wait 🙂
Kelly says
Sparta High School
Grand Rapids Community College
Western Michigan University
Julia Baxter says
Mercer Island High School and Samford University
susan smoaks says
i earned my degree at UF
Scott Nussman says
I attended George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. I was a commuter student, but the entire college experience was very rewarding. Through my Integrative Studies program at New Century College at George Mason, I learned through experience, guidance, and support to gain great knowledge of the world. There are 9 competencies that we have become proficient in: Communication, Critical Thinking, Strategic Problem Solving, Valuing, Group Interaction, Global Understanding, Effective Citizenship, Aesthetic Awareness, and Information Technology. The Study Abroad program is excellent. When I went to school in Senegal in West Africa, it was an experience that has changed my life to this very day. Love!
Linda Peavy says
I earned my degree at Stephen F. Austin State University
Melanie Montgomery says
Welding Certificate from Delta Tech!
Well, my husbands.
Zenetta says
I have a degree from Towson University.
Zenetta says
Towson University.
Re M says
Virginia Tech
Allison says
I earned my Masters in Education in May from Sacramento State.
lucas nelson says
st cloud state university
Pauline M says
My degree is from the University of Utah!
Laura says
Troy University
kendra W says
Prairie Heights HS Lagrange Indiana
Candace says
I earned a BA in chemistry from East Carolina University.
Harold D says
Devry University
McKim says
Lewis-Clark State College
Erica C. says
I went to Towson Univ.
Kyle says
Troy University Bachelors in Business Admin
Mary Casper says
Osborn High School
Melissa B. says
I will be earning my bachelor’s degree in May from Southeastern Louisiana University.
Jen says
Towson University!
Kimberly R says
Bachelor’s degree from Hiram College!
Jessica Rose says
Dixon High School
Tamar says
Barnard College / Columbia University!
Cary G says
Johns Hopkins University for me.
Chelsea says
This would be for my husband. He got his degree at University of Louisiana.
rachel says
My hs diploma from Neelyville. Still working on the 4 year though
Charlene S says
I graduated from Atwater High.
Katie R says
I’m currently earning my degree at University of Massachusetts Amherst and will be graduating in spring
Serge B says
Tufts
MAMOTTS says
u/a
Erika P. says
I have my AA from Hancock college.
Gianna says
I don’t have a degree, it would be for my husband.
laura ari says
The University of Delaware!
christine jessamine says
salt lake community
Mary Calabrese says
Master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island (only because they paid me to go there!!)
Kristie says
I have a BS in Animal Science from Michigan State University.
Janna Johnson says
Ohio State uNiversity
Whitney L says
Evangel University Springfield MO for hubby!
LaTanya says
Clemson University
Holly B says
The University of Findlay
Sunnie says
I graduated high school at Horizon High.
Vickie Couturier says
I earned my Nursing Degree from Tennessee Tech.Center
Lynda E says
Patrick Henry High School and Roanoke College
Maria Kiguthi says
Utah State University – Go Aggies!
Kristi C says
The University of Tennessee – Knoxville.
Allison Greene says
I earned my bachelor’s and master’s from the University of South Florida
Annette D says
I graduated from the University of NC at Greensboro
Anne Lehnick says
I went to college at Texas A&M University
TawndaM says
do I really HAVE to say?? lol Pottsgrove… but I was only there half a year…
ELIZABETH C. says
I earned my degree from st. Johns university.
Shannon Baas says
Iowa Lakes Community college.
Ann Fantom says
I got my degree from Wagner College
Charlene says
University of Florida!
Sherri wellman says
OSU!!! Oklahoma State University!
Heather Turner says
Western Michigan University. yaow!
maria says
cabrini college BA and alvernia university MBA
susan says
I earned my degree from the University of Portland.