Smith Student Business Centers on Cap & Gown Sales

Graduation is a magical day in the life of a college student. It is a transition day into the professional world and it is a time to look back on what has been accomplished as a student. One of the highlights of graduation is the opportunity to wear a cap and gown and pass through the formal commencement ceremony. As the winter graduation ceremony approaches, Smith undergraduate student Christopher Kobus runs a business to help students with the cap and gown process for their graduation.

According to Kobus, the ultimate goal of Cap & Gown is to provide affordable regalia sets to graduating students in the Smith School. Originally started by Ori Zohar, a recent graduate of the Smith School, Cap & Gown is a small business sponsored by the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. Kobus, who now runs the operation, notes that we sell our sets to all full- and part-time MBA students, and this year we have even started doing business in the undergraduate market. Promising exceptional product quality, Kobus says we make sure all of our regalia sets are in excellent condition. Each set is dry cleaned and inventoried before it is sold to the following seasons graduate.

Working with Dingman has given Cap & Gown great networking opportunities within the business school, helped foster new ideas to increase sales, and fund the initial buyback sales, says Kobus. The resources of the Dingman Center combined with the entrepreneurial spirit of the Smith School, has enabled Cap & Gown to grow and expand its business. Kobus business provides an important service to Smith Students, helping them to make their graduation a more magical experience.

Cap & Gown is currently selling sets for winter graduation. According to Kobus, right now Cap & Gown is currently selling FULL regalia sets for the winter graduation for $60; this includes the cap, gown, hood, and stole. After the Dec. 20, 2007 ceremony, Cap & Gown will have a table in Van Munching for buybacks. If you have any questions please contact Chris Kobus at ckobus@umd.edu.

▓ Lettie Goodridge, MBA Candidate 2008, Smith Media Group