It's right on top of their noggins. Commencement is a time when you can see, regardless of field of study, creativity let loose. Messages of love and appreciation and personal statements about life's journeys adorn the mortarboards (the fancy word for cap) of many every year at Commencement.
Let's take a look at some of the more inspiring mortarboards in recent years at West Virginia University.
‘I knew I could’
Photo by Brian Persinger
Just because it's in a children's book doesn't mean you have to leave sound advice behind in your youth.
This 2011 graduate of the College of Education and Human Services knew he or she could do it with some inspiration from “The Little Engine That Could.”
Humor us
Photo by Jennifer Shephard
Well, that's one resourceful use of a graduation cap. And you won't have to spend money on hair replacement. This was taken from a student-athlete reception in December 2015.
Dad, you're embarrassing me
Photo by Brian Persinger
Who said that only the graduates get to have fun? Here, Jack Hash, of Melbourne, Fla., waits outside the Coliseum for his daughter Kimberly Hash, a criminology major, in May 2012. His wife works for Disney and gave him the Mickey Mouse cap for the event.
What a wonderful phrase
Photo by Bob Beverly
Arts major? Nah.
This exercise physiology student fooled you and showed off her more creative side with this ode to “The Lion King” at a May 2016 ceremony.
25 or 6 to 4?
Photo by M.G. Ellis
Is this some profound expression about the ongoing clock of life?
Is 5:15 significant to this graduate?
Or since he's graduating from the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, maybe he wants to build clocks? But you probably don't need an engineering degree to do that. So many questions.
Admission from afar
Photo by Brian Persinger
Good call on this 2016 graduate of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences revealing her secret on the day of commencement.
How can mom be mad at her on this grand day of achievement?
Just don't tell her where the tattoo is located.
A pointed statement
Photo by Brian Persinger
Obviously, this isn't a mortarboard. But it was part of Commencement fashion in 2016. Surely this may be one bow tie that President Gordon Gee doesn't own.
Forever a Mountaineer
Photo by Brian Persinger
No matter what's on your cap or wherever “Country Roads” take our graduates, we are all bound by this simple message above.