Not cooking related. Present for graduate.

[KimKelly]

Our neighbor and wonderful babysitter will be gratuating from high school in June. She is such a wonderful girl and our kids just love her. She has a 4.4 average (and to think I was proud of my 3.4!) and was accepted to USD with aspirations to become a pediatrician!
Anyway, we are stumped as to what to get her for a graduation present. I would like to do something nice for her, something that she could use in college maybe? She will be staying in a dorm for the first year - what do kids need when they first move away? I commuted to college so I never had to "outfit" myself.

Sorry to do a non-food related post, sure hope I have not offended anyone, but I really could use the help! Thanks everyone!

Kim

[Jewel]

If possible, speak to her parents to see what types of things she already has lined up for her college dorm so you won't double up. I would see about one of those new compact microwaves in brilliant designer colors? Perfect for a dorm room. Maybe a supply of gourmet microwave popcorn to go with it so she can make new friends?

If you're more on the very practical side, my aunt paid for my first semester's college books as a graduation gift. She'd gone to the college bookstore and gotten me a gift certificate. At that time it was about $150, but it sure made things easier for me!

If you're wanting to get her something personal, I'd go with a very nice photo frame, possibly already loaded with a special photo you can get from her folks. Graduation and leaving home are tough on kids, and having a really nice framed photo around the dorm room can really perk you up! I always seem to buy photo frames for events like showers, weddings, retirement parties, etc. You know there's going to be photos taken at those events that they'll want to remember, so why not give them a way to showcase those memories? Just a few ideas! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Susann]

Remember "Oh, The Places You Will Go" by Dr. Seuss? It actually makes a very nice graduation gift. The theme is ageless!

[SusieO]

What about a nice laundry basket, complete with detergent, fabric softener, etc. and a roll of quarters?

Also, this is something I got for my niece: a terry cloth robe and a shower caddy with shampoo, shower gel, etc.

Kudos to you for planning your gift idea so far in advance!

[CheerLiz]

I'm a high school teacher and a coach, and I give a gift each year to my senior athletes (the ones on my team, not all the athletes in my classes!). I'm a huge fan of Cross pens --the silver ones -- that have the athlete's name and year of graduation engraved on them. They cost about $40 each, but they're timeless and classy.

My coach gave me one when I graduated from high school (eek -- 13 years ago!) and I still have it and use it often. It meant a lot to me, so I guess that's why I give them now.

[crazycook]

Good Morning KimKelly http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
Since the young woman has aspirations of becoming a pediatrician, how about her very own "Littmann Classic II Pediatric Stethoscope "---it even comes in cool colours like rasberry and cobalt blue! Here is the link to the website where I found the stethoscope. http://www.hmponline.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=10&Product_ID=695&CATID=9
A little pricier suggestion would be her own
traditional physician's bag with engraveable name plate. Here's the page from the same website: http://www.hmponline.com/acb/showprod.cfm?&DID=10&CATID=12&ObjectGroup_ID=100 It also comes in cool colours. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
They also have a "gift ideas" page, although most of the gift items are geared more for nurses.
p.s. I am not affliliated with the above mentioned website. I simply thought of the two ideas and did a search and found the site. Good Luck finding something for your special friend. Congratulations on her upcoming graduation and the best of luck to her in her future endeavours. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[kentgirl]

My son got many gifts when he graduated from high school and went on to college. But the one gift that he has gotten the most use out of his electronic dictionary. He uses it when he writes his papers or in his reading whenever he stumbles across a word he doesn't understand.

My son goes to Princeton, and he mentioned that many of the students there carry an electronic dictionary. I highly recommend it.

[jmarie]

A gift that my daughter received, that she really enjoyed AND used was a basket loaded with little goodies. A 100 minute phone card, stationary and envelopes along with stamps, little birthday cards (age appropriate that she could send her college friends) a little God's Promises book,A nice pen (not a Cross) a little address book, and a small box of chocolates.
This friend was also good to send gifts at EXAM time. These baskets included, hot chocolate, a mug, little packages of peanut butter crackers, cookies, raisins, chocolate covered pretzels (that she made herself). She would also sent one to my daughters roommate and suitemates.
My friend is such a DEAR person!

[mightyh]

I'd vote with the shower theme... The high school graduation gifts I most appreciated and used were along those lines.... a laundry bag is easier to tote down to the machines than a laundry basket (I think lands end may sell one you can get personalized). Rolls of quarters are nice, as is detergent.

So are personalized huge fluffy towels--less likely to be stolen from the laundry room--or a nice robe. Other bathroom necessities--shower shoes, shower caddy.

Also think about pre-paid calling cards.

The microwave and popcorn gift is a great idea, though some schools have restrictions on what electronics you can bring, so I'd check before you commit to that.

My brother graduates from high school this year, so I'll check with him and see if he has any great ideas.

[SueK]

Phone cards are a great idea, and I've bought them before for grads. When I was in college, my sister used to send me care packages on a regular, montly basis. Maybe you could do something like that for her for the fall semester?

How about a gift certificate to a good restaurant near where she'll go to college? That way she can treat herself when she needs a break, and won't have to worry about paying for it!

[laughsandlaughs]

Palm Pilots are very popular and can help college students stay organized.

However, when I graduated from high school my favorite gift came from the family I babysat for regularly and was a beautiful bracelet from Tiffany's. If was my first Tiffany item and made me feel very special getting that little blue box!! It was about $150 and now, 5 years outside of college it's still one of my favorites. check out their website or better yet, their catalog for great affordable special gifts.

[KimKelly]

Wow! Thanks you guys... I had never thought of most of the things that you all suggested! What wonderful ideas. I think I will check with her parents and see what she needs in the way of "dorm stuff". She is lucky in that the school is only 45 minutes from home, so I'm not sure if she will come home to do laundry or not. I like the basket of things ideas, that would really be fun to put together.

Thanks again for all the ideas, all help and ideas are truly appreciated.

Kim

[luv2cook]

I think whenever you get a gift for someone going off to college, if at all possible do monogramming on whatever it is - theft is less likely this way. There were some great ideas above. Wish I had thought of some of them...even if you do a bathrobe, monogram it.

[makedah]

I graduated from high school 11 years ago and I still use the nice towels I got for graduation. They are still hanging in there!

[peg levy]

I have two daughters who have recently graduated. Their favorite gift was a tool box made for females. It was hot pink and had a hammer, staple gun, nails. These items made them very popular on the floor when everyone was scurrying around trying to get settled. They are still in love with the gift now that they are moving into their first apartments.

[Laura B]

I have a feeling that if she is only 45 minutes from home, she will drive home for laundry! I swore I wouldn't, but I just hated the laundry facilites. So, every other weekend or so (you learn to stretch how many wears you get out of an item before it hits the dirty pile http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif ) I would drive home and wash there. Home was an hour away.

I think all of these ideas are great. The family I babysat for all the time talked to my mom and found out what I wanted as far as bedding. They got the comforter I had picked out from Speigel's and my mom got the sheets, etc. to go with it. I really appreciated that gift, and that comforter is still a favorite blanket for snuggling on the couch (and for guests to use on the air mattress since it is twin size). I always think of that family fondly when I use it!

Oh, and I can agree that Oh, The Places You'll Go by Seuss makes a great grad present. I used to supervise the kid's department at B&N and we sold a couple hundred copies around graduation time! I gave one to my sister in law when she graduated a couple of years ago.

The toolbox idea is a great one. I made one up for myself before I left. But most people did not think of that sort of thing. I don't know what her dorm is like, but ours was very nice and we had to hang our pictures from molding at the top of the wall (they would not let us hammer into the wall). So, a picture hanging kit that has wire and picture hooks, etc. might be useful. And some double sided tape for posters.

[This message has been edited by Laura B (edited 04-15-2001).]

[jmarie]

I forgot about the toolbox! Yes! My daughter received one of those, too and everyone on her floor ended up using it! she was the only one with hammer and nails..among other things in it that were found usefil. she kept it under her bed and everyone borrowed it!

[lorilei]

The absolute best gift I received for graduation before college was a little Dirt Devil hand vac. It was the perfect size for cleaning the carpet in my dorm room -- and didn't take up as much space as a full-sized vacuum. I still use it around the house for small jobs; that little thing is a powerhouse!

I also got a dorm-sized refrigerator, which was put to great use. I used it to store fruits, vegetables and drinks in my dorm... it really saved me money, and kept me eating healthy! Now I use the fridge to store extra drinks when we have company over...

[Beth]

My favorites many years ago were: a personalized shower basket full of bath goodies, towels, extra long twin sheets, a LONG nightgown and robe my aunt and uncle got at a tall shop and were the first I'd ever had that were long enough, a tool box with my grandfather's old hammer, pliers and screwdrivers, picture hooks and all sorts of goodies (my Dad, who put it together, got a kick out of the fact that he often saw people asking to borrow tools, etc).

Hot pots, coffee makers, popcorn poppers and such were all popular, but my dorm didn't allow many appliances. I recently gave a cousin and nephew monogrammed fleece stadium blankets and heard they were favorites for studying, ball games, picnis, etc. I would get tips from her family about what she has, needs, cannot have, etc.

[GayeC]

Originally posted by mightyh:
My brother graduates from high school this year, so I'll check with him and see if he has any great ideas.

I would love to hear your brother's ideas. We have 2 nephews graduating from h.s. this year and have no idea what to get them. Thanks.

[BethH]

I remember a friend of my mom's sending me a small package of baked goods each month during my first year. It was the greatest!!!This particular woman loved to bake, so it isn't something everyone would want to do. If you like to bake...a college freshman would love to eat whatever it is you bake, guaranteed! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Rolls of quarters were also wonderful to have around--I was known to buy myself dinner with a big stack of them! I also got a pen with my name and graduation year on it which I liked and a copy of the Bartender's Bible that I still find useful! (Her parents might not appreciate that though!)

[beejayw1]

How about a gift certificate to a store like Kmart or Wal-Mart? I remember my freshman year in college: I was always getting something or other to make my dorm room better.

Beej

[Beth Y]

Luggage is a gift you will use in college and years thereafter. It is rare that a high school kid has his own, but suddenly in college, you are running off on weekend trips with your friends and can't dip into your parents luggage supply.

These days, you don't have to invest in the Samsonite or American Tourister three piece set (do they still make those?). Small more versatile pieces are used much more, such as a small or medium size duffle bag. L.L. Bean makes great ones, some that have wheels, some that convert into backpacks, some that do both! All our Bean stuff has worn well and we travel a lot. You can never have enough good duffle bags, and as someone said above, monogramming is a good idea.

[GayeC]

Just bumping this up in hopes that mightyh will report on her brother's ideas for good gifts for guys who are graduating!

[mightyh]

I've put in an email request to my brother, but, like all high school seniors, he's "really busy" and hasn't been able to get back to me. I promise I'll report as soon as he lets me know... Somehow I don't feel like I'm a priority http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[mightyh]

I apologize.. the only really realistic gift my brother put on his response to me was flags--as in real U.S. flag, a pennant from the college he's going to, etc. I think he wants to decorate his dorm room with them.

He also mentioned a CD burner, which I think retails for about $200. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

My aunt often gives polartec blankets, personalized with either the kid's name or name of his college, as graduation gifts and I think these are well-used. She buys them wherever and gets them embroidered at her local dry cleaner.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

[This message has been edited by mightyh (edited 04-18-2001).]