Summa cum ___

LAUDE

This Latin phrase often appears on diplomas to denote the highest academic honor, literally meaning "with praise."

This clue is a partial Latin phrase commonly used in academic honors. "Summa cum laude" means "with highest praise" and is awarded to top graduates, so the blank is filled with "laude." The clue relies on familiarity with this traditional graduation distinction, where "laude" completes the well-known phrase. No wordplay is involved—it’s a straightforward fill-in-the-blank reference.