Mia Damiano and Alison Lynch worked with an Etsy creator to create custom graduation caps for grads' pets to use for years to come
Credit: Madison Brown/Virginia Tech
NEED TO KNOW
- Veterinary students Mia Damiano and Alison Lynch organized a pet-friendly graduation photoshoot featuring custom animal-sized caps
- The event celebrated the bond between students and the pets that supported them through the challenges of vet school
- The tradition will continue with future classes using the tiny caps to honor their own pets and journeys
Tiny hats inspired a big idea.
In December, Mia Damiano, who, at the time, was the class secretary for Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine's Class of 2026, spotted some pet-sized graduation caps online and came up with a plan.
Damiano proposed a graduation photoshoot that included classmates and their pets to her friend Alison Lynch, DVM, the class president for VMCVM's Class of 2026.
"I wanted to do something for the class and also for our pets, who have been there with us through everything," Damiano tells PEOPLE on what inspired her to establish a pet photo graduation tradition.
Lynch says Damiano, who was the valedictorian of their class when they graduated this spring, shared examples of other veterinary schools that offered graduation photos with pets and miniature doctoral caps.
Credit: Madison Brown/Virginia Tech
"Immediately, everyone could see how meaningful something like that would be for our class," Lynch adds.
Together, Lynch and Damiano, with the approval of their classmates, used class funds to obtain a photo backdrop and custom animal-sized graduation caps. The purchases ensured Damiano's fun idea became "a class gift centered around celebrating the bond between veterinary students and the animals who helped them."
For the graduation caps, Lynch worked with an Etsy creator to design custom caps modeled after VMCVM's doctoral regalia.
"We intentionally created multiple cap sizes so that a wide range of pets could comfortably participate," Lynch notes. "Our goal was to make the experience as accessible and enjoyable as possible for everyone."
Credit: Madison Brown/Virginia Tech
It was smart of Lynch and Damiano to plan ahead, as a variety of animals turned up with their graduating owners for the spring photoshoot the pair arranged, including Gonzo the snake and Momo the leopard gecko.
"It was so much fun. It was one of the most rewarding things that I did throughout vet school. Alison and I stayed, and we helped throughout the day," Damiano says of the shoot day, which she attended with her five-pound cat, Willow.
Credit: Madison Brown/Virginia Tech
She adds that all of the pets who turned up for portraits behaved well, even if they didn't totally understand their new accessories.
"Through the four years, I got really comfortable with a lot of the pets," Damiano shares, noting how this bond helped her keep the animal models calm.
Credit: Madison Brown/Virginia Tech
Overall, the inaugural pet-friendly graduation photoshoot was a success, with an even higher turnout than expected.
"I think the enthusiasm reflected how much our pets mean to us. Veterinary school is demanding, and many of our pets were with us through late-night studying, stressful exams, clinical rotations, and all the ups and downs that come with earning a DVM," Lynch says, adding, "everyone was patient, flexible, and had a great sense of humor" on photo day.
Lynch looks forward to passing on the tiny caps from the photo shoot to the next graduating class and inspiring others to learn more about veterinary medicine.
"I hope people see how much community exists within veterinary medicine," she says. "These photos weren't just about pets in graduation caps. They were about celebrating the journey, honoring the animals who supported us along the way, and creating memories that students will carry with them long after graduation."
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