With graduation right around the corner, one highly anticipated activity for most students is decorating their graduation caps, formally called mortarboards.
Many easy and creative designs can give students ideas and inspire them to add a little flair to the graduation cap. However, students need to remember that Stevenson has certain restrictions about what is allowed on the caps.
In a YouTube video called “Stevenson University Graduation Information,” around the 8:43 mark, Registrar Tracy Bolt states what is not allowed on graduation caps. The following items are banned:
- Anything that sticks up above the top.
- Anything hanging down the sides and back (bows, for example).
- Strands of light
- Inappropriate content
Bolt said, “It’s a matter of courtesy to not obstruct the view for the people sitting behind you, which stops them from seeing.”
One simple cap design allowed, however, is a quote that has very special meaning to the graduate. Common quotes are funny, inspiring, joyous or comic.
Linnea Bleacher, a senior human services major said, “I’m going to put one of my favorite quotes on top of my cap from a graphic design website, that will print it for about $20.” Many websites will print designs for graduation caps for a small fee. More ideas are available on Pinterest.
Another popular cap design is adding something that relates to a club or hobby. Those who enjoy gaming for example, can decorate with a certain game character or a picture of a controller to represent the type of gaming system enjoyed. Putting familiar TV, gaming or movie characters on the cap can also spark conversation.
Consider using a flag to represent your culture or places traveled if you have studied abroad while in college. Arwa Salhab, a senior nursing major said, “I am going to have the Palestinian flag because that is where all of my family is from and it holds a special place in my heart.” She is also putting a stethoscope on top of the flag to represent her major, since it was the reason she came to Stevenson.
These creative and unique graduation cap designs will not only set one cap apart from others, but they will be good items to keep as memorabilia. The cap is also a reminder that graduates have accomplished a major achievement, graduating from college and going out into the real world.