University of Wisconsin-Stout graduate Kelsey Srdar chose to decorate her graduation cap in memory of her grandmother, Mickey Srdar.
On the cap was a picture of the two of them. Srdar, of Prior Lake, Minn., surrounded the picture with white butterflies and the words: An angel granted my dreams.
“She was my best friend,” said Srdar, her voice breaking with emotion, wiping tears from her eyes just prior to the 9:30 a.m. commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 16, at Johnson Fieldhouse.
“We would go shopping and get in trouble with the family by spending too much money,” she added, smiling at the memory. “Every Friday at 10 a.m. I took her to J.C. Penney’s in Southdale Mall (Edina, Minn.) to get her hair done.”
Mickey Srdar, who was in her 90s, died July 4.
Kelsey Srdar, who graduated with a degree in retail merchandising and management, dreams of moving to the East Coast. Her grandmother supported that dream. Srdar, a manager trainee with Hammer Made of Eden Prairie, Minn., in the Mall of America store, hopes to transfer to the company’s Boston store. Hammer Made makes unique, premium and limited-run shirts at affordable prices. The founder and owner, Jason Hammerberg, earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in apparel from UW-Stout.
Giving a personal touch to mortarboards is a growing trend, one that is fun and allows graduates to show off their personalities, some of the 749 graduates said.
Brendon Schumacher, who earned a degree in business administration, had his mortarboard decorated with SpongeBob SquarePants’ best friend, Patrick the starfish, and octopus Squidward Tentacles. Both are holding diplomas and graduation caps. His girlfriend, Courtney Ommen, a UW-Stout senior studying professional communications and emerging media from Hastings, Minn., decorated the cap for him.
“SpongeBob is the way to go,” said Schumacher, of Loretto, Minn. “It’s funny for adults and kids. It’s just fun.”
Molly Flesher, who graduated in business administration, also decided to decorate with a SpongeBob theme. SpongeBob held the diploma on her cap. “I love SpongeBob,” said Flesher, of Minneapolis. “He’s so funny and carefree and lighthearted. That’s how I want to remember my college experience.”
Flesher said she believes more graduates are opting to decorate their caps. “I think there is this push to be yourself and show your individuality and flare and set yourself apart,” she said.
At UW-Eau Claire a table was set up at Schofield Hall for a couple of days prior to commencement, also Dec. 16, for students to drop by and decorate their caps. Flesher said she believes UW-Stout should offer that as well.
“I think it would be fun,” said Flesher, who plans to attend graduate school in the future.
Menomonie native Joanie Dulin, a marketing and human resources manager at Cedar Corp., a Menomonie engineering and planning firm, decorated her graduation cap with the words: I’m old enough to be your mother. Glitter arrows pointed out from the cap toward the other graduates around her.
Dulin, who earned a degree in management, said she is a nontraditional student getting her degree at age 40. “This is something for me to celebrate,” Dulin said. “It’s a big accomplishment. Society and culture are adding more excitement to graduation.”
Meghan Rud, of Mondovi, also graduated in management. Her mortarboard had the words: She believed she could, so she did.
At 32 years old with two children and working full time at Marten Transportation as a logistics coordinator, Rud said it was difficult to finish her degree. “I did something I didn’t know I could, and I completed it,” she said.
For her, decorating the graduation cap allowed her to share that part of her story.
Katrina Quall, who graduated in retail merchandising and management, turned to Etsy, an e-commerce site focused on handmade or vintage items and supplies, to hire someone to decorate her graduation cap. On it was the symbol for her sorority Gamma Sigma and a reference to Quall being like a wildflower, beautiful, fierce and free.
“It really fits me,” said Quall, from Black River Falls. “I’m kind of a real free spirit and do my own thing. I wanted to be my own person, even at graduation, when it’s just like a sea of people graduating. It’s just kind of fun to symbolize graduation and the next step.”
Quall, who eventually wants to attend law school, plans to make a shadow box for the mortarboard and other keepsakes.
Julia Blum, an environmental science graduate from Hugo, Minn., decorated her cap with red, gold and blue stars and the words University of Wisconsin-Stout. “I wanted it to match the tassel,” she said. “I wanted it to look professional, yet add some color.”
Samantha Sova, who graduated in retail merchandising and management, covered her cap in pink glitter and the words Girl Boss. “I got a job at Kohl’s in Milwaukee as an assistant manager,” she said. “I’m going to be a boss.”
“It’s a way to express how you feel about graduation,” said Sova, of Curtiss. “It’s a way to show yourself off. I think a lot of people see it more and more on the Internet and social media and they want to do it and think it looks cool.”
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Photos
Top: The mortarboard of UW-Stout graduate Kelsey Srdar’s includes a photo herself with her grandmother, Mickey, who died July 4. At right is the cap of "Girl Boss" Samantha Sova, who will be an assistant manager at Kohl's.
Middle: Katrina Quall, who graduated Dec. 16 from UW-Stout, had special words and the symbol for her Gamma Sigma sorority on her mortarboard.
Third: Graduate Brendon Schumacher’s mortarboard Dec. 16 included the SpongeBob SquarePants characters Squidward Tentacles, left, and Patrick.
Bottom: Joanie Dulin of Menomonie had some fun with her age on her mortarboard.
