For college students across the country, commencement formally marks the transition from student to graduate.

Express yourself.

For the children of immigrants, receiving a college degree can be a huge milestone in their larger family story.

Graduating college students have long expressed their individuality by decorating their graduation caps with slogans and artwork, but a University of Nevada, Las Vegas professor says the themes have gotten more political in recent years.

UNLV associate professor Sheila Bock has been researching how and why students decorate their caps and says the themes over the years have become increasingly political.

The black letters contrast sharply with the graduation cap’s red fabric. They spell: “Vuela tan alto como puedas sin olvidar de donde vienes.”

The black letters contrast sharply with the graduation cap’s red fabric. They spell: “Vuela tan alto como puedas sin olvidar de donde vienes.”

In the midst of the official pomp and circumstance, more and more graduates are adding a personal touch: They’ll decorate their graduation caps, also known as mortarboards.