Communication seniors Raydan Thomas-Lapham and Kiera Beecher are hosting a graduation cap decorating event, Caps and Crafts, on Wednesday, April 8 from 5-8 p.m. in Station 82. All graduating seniors are invited to attend and customize their caps.
Caps and Crafts serves as part of the Communication Senior Project, a class containing a capstone event assignment that all communication seniors are to put on. The event allows students to apply what they have learned during their academic journey in a professional and creative way.
Both Beecher and Thomas-Lapham had the goal of creating a unique graduation experience.
“Especially at a school that puts such an emphasis on individualism and creativity, an event where people can show off their personality and pride on a large scale felt like a non-negotiable,” Thomas-Lapham said.
He further explained that many seniors may not have the opportunity to decorate their caps on their own time, with how many events and deadlines that take place in their final year. He and Beecher wanted to provide the space to allow seniors to do so.
Thomas-Lapham pitched the idea of a cap decorating event to Beecher earlier this semester.
“She has graphic design experience, and most importantly craft event experience. Her unique experience as the president of Sigma Psi Omega was of huge assurance and help when figuring out all the steps to a successful event, especially how to expect the unexpected and how best to prepare,” he said.
Beecher served as the Resource, Material, and Volunteer Coordinator. Responsibilities for this title included getting donations for supplies, preparing a team to work for the event, and gathering supplies. Thomas-Lapham served as the Event Director, which included publicity, designing the posters, planning the location, gathering supplies, and being a voice to campus resources.
Beecher emphasized that she believes graduating seniors will enjoy this event.
“I would just love the seniors to know how much it would mean to us for them to attend and enjoy our event. A lot of love has gone into this event, and I hope those who attend feel proud of their end result. Everyone on this campus is truly creative in the best ways, and I’m so excited to see what they create,” she said.
Thomas-Lapham expressed how proud he was of each and every one of the seniors for the amount of work and dedication they have put into their education.
“They deserve to sit down with their friends, listen to good music, and create one final piece of art that represents their journey, art that they will be proud to show off to hundreds of their peers, friends, and family on Saturday, May 2,” he said.
Whitley Brown is a third-year communication major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
