Throughout the summer and school year, undergraduate student government members will collect used graduation caps and gowns to rent, free of charge, to future graduating students.
The Cap and Gown Donation drive, which began during 10th week, is meant to help mitigate graduation costs for UCLA students, said Undergraduate Students Association Council General Representative 1 Manjot Singh.
Currently, a cap, gown and degree tassel cost close to $40 at the UCLA Store.
USAC General Representative 1 staff have collected about 15 sets of caps and gowns so far, said Mikael Matossian, a third-year environmental science student and one of the office’s chiefs of staff.
Singh said the idea for the drive occurred to him while talking with his graduating roommates about the financial burdens some students face during graduation.
“I’m excited about the program’s process, and hopefully this sets a precedent for other programs at other universities to reduce the cost of graduation for students in the future,” Singh said.
The best way to contact the General Representative 1 office to donate is through the drive’s Facebook event page or Singh’s USAC email address, Matossian said.
Members of Singh’s office are also reaching out to UCLA alumni to send their used caps and gowns to the university for the drive, Singh said.
Compiled by Samantha Tomilowitz, Bruin senior staff