Anyone know when/how graduation honors are technically awarded?

Does anyone know how we can formally verify our graduating honors? I'm hoping to determine my graduation honors (honors/high/highest honors) in order to include it in my graduation announcements (mom's request). I've seen the cutoffs on the registrar website but am confused by the disclaimer: "The grade-point average thresholds for the above honors categories are calculated based on the population of graduates from the preceding academic year".

Does this mean that the cutoffs are merely a guideline and are subject to change depending on this years GPAs, or that this years awards will be based on last years GPAs? I called the registrar twice and couldn't get a concrete answer so I'm wondering if someone here has already looked in to this. The honors does not appear on my oficial transcript or anywhere on GOLD that I have found.