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.”

More than 3,000 students will cross the stage today at UNLV’s spring commencement ceremony.

Democrats hoping to take control of the U.S. Senate in November believe one of their best chances to pick up a seat this year lies in battleground Nevada, where Sen. Dean Heller is the only Republican running for re-election in a state that Democrat Hillary Clinton carried in 2016.

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.

A couple of years from now you might be able to settle into your seat at Coors Field, pull out your phone and legally bet money on whether the next player makes it to first base.

Graduation caps decorated to celebrate accomplishment but also promote political messages.