Taft College Cougar Echo

A Green Graduation
By Luis A. Cendejas


This year’s graduation will be “going green.” The regalia (caps and gowns) that will be used in the upcoming Taft College graduation will be made of recycled plastic bottles. The previous regalia used were made of nylon, a petroleum based product. When products are organic and green, the prices tend to be higher, but not in this case, prices will stay the same. Bill Norris who started the bookstore manager position here in Taft College 2 years ago brought on the earth friendly change. Mr. Norris has also been bookstore manager at Bakersfield College and at Barnes and Nobles. I asked Mr. Norris the reason for the change, and he said, “It’s eco-friendly and we’re giving back to the environment; they feel smoother too.” This is the process that the bottles go through to become your regalia: the plastic bottles are processed to remove impurities like labels and caps. The bottles are chopped into fragments, then melted and solidified into pellets. They are melted again and put into a filament yarn. The yarn is then woven and dyed. It takes about 23 plastic bottles to make one gown. The company Oak Hall will be making the regalia. Oak Hill also does regalia for Ivy League schools.

This year’s graduation will be “going green.” The regalia (caps and gowns) that will be used in the upcoming Taft College graduation will be made of recycled plastic bottles. The previous regalia used were made of nylon, a petroleum based product. When products are organic and green, the prices tend to be higher, but not in this case, prices will stay the same. 
Bill Norris who started the bookstore manager position here in Taft College 2 years ago brought on the earth friendly change. Mr. Norris has also been bookstore manager at Bakersfield College and at Barnes and Nobles. I asked Mr. Norris the reason for the change, and he said, “It’s eco-friendly and we’re giving back to the environment; they feel smoother too.”
This is the process that the bottles go through to become your regalia: the plastic bottles are processed to remove impurities like labels and caps. The bottles are chopped into fragments, then melted and solidified into pellets. They are melted again and put into a filament yarn. The yarn is then woven and dyed. It takes about 23 plastic bottles to make one gown.
The company Oak Hall will be making the regalia. Oak Hill also does regalia for Ivy League schools.

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