Veterinary graduates create what they hope will become a pet-sized commencement tradition
On a spring morning in Blacksburg, a dog in a tiny doctoral tam sat patiently next to its owner, who was wearing the real thing.
In the days before commencement, graduating students lined up — not just in their own regalia, but with their animals dressed to match — for a studio portrait session dreamed up by their own class leadership. The idea came from class secretary and valedictorian Mia Damiano, who proposed it to class president Alison Lynch late last year.
“We became excited about bringing that experience to VMCVM and creating a tradition that future classes could continue and make their own,” Lynch said.
An idea that moved fast
Lynch brought the proposal to the class executive board, then to the entire class.
“When we presented the idea to the class, the response was overwhelmingly positive,” she said. “After seeing the excitement and interest from our classmates, our executive board unanimously approved using class gift funds to support the event because it felt meaningful, personal, and sustainable for future classes.”
Lynch worked with the college’s marketing and communications team to coordinate photography space, scheduling, and logistics. She sent a survey to gauge interest and gather feedback. Sign-ups filled almost immediately. They expanded the schedule to add sessions.
To make the miniature doctoral tams, Lynch turned to an Etsy creator who designed custom caps based on photos of the actual VMCVM regalia. She made sure a range of sizes was available so that more animals, of more shapes and species, could participate comfortably.
They went through this with us
For veterinary students, the bond with their own animals runs deep. Pets sat through recorded lectures, kept watch during late study nights, and forced their humans outside when the stress of clinics and board exam prep grew suffocating.
“For veterinary students, our pets are everything — and for many of us, they were a huge part of getting through veterinary school,” Lynch said. “In many ways, they went through this journey with us. The miniature doctoral caps were meant to celebrate that bond while also adding something fun, memorable, and unique to the photos.”
On the day of the event, Lynch and other executive board members arrived early to set up the backdrop and lighting alongside the marketing and communications team, then stayed throughout — wrangling pets, keeping the schedule moving, and making sure the atmosphere felt calm and welcoming for students and animals alike.
Something people will remember
Class traditions are hard to start. Harder still to start one that future classes will actually want to continue. Lynch thought carefully about that.
“It honestly means a great deal to me,” she said. “The fact that this became something our classmates were genuinely excited about — and something future classes may continue — is incredibly meaningful.”
To make sure they could, the class donated the tams to the college — a tangible investment in the tradition they hoped to start.
Her advice to the Class of 2027 is practical: start early, communicate often, and stay flexible. But underneath the logistics is a simpler truth about what made the day work.
“More than anything, I would encourage future classes to focus on creating events that make students feel celebrated and supported,” Lynch said. “Those are the memories people carry with them long after graduation.”
