Every senior in college’s current wish list probably consists of the following items: graduation cap, gown, tassel, stole, diploma and, if they’re really feeling the spirit, the triumphant graduation soundtrack of “High School Musical 3: Senior Year.”

Collegiate apparel can have a lasting sentimental value. With that knowledge, the Anaheim business Show Your Spirit strives to customize anything from graduation stoles to Greek life apparel and orientation gear, adding a personal spin on tangible reminders of college life. 

The owner of Show Your Spirit, John Deacon, said running the business not only puts a smile on the faces of students, but also himself and his family. 

“Because we get to know so many of the students, we make these stoles with love,” Deacon said. “We know who’s going to be wearing this and what they mean to us. They don’t become just clients. They literally become our kids.”

Show Your Spirit was founded in 2007. To this day, it remains a family business that Deacon and his wife Sharon promote with care and affordable prices. With a focus in education apparel, the business also does promotional items for middle schools and high schools, with the slogan, “If you can dream it, we can make it happen.”

Deacon, whose daughter received her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Chapman in 2013 and 2014, recalled a moment where he reminded his employees why long nights at their screen printer and hours embroidering personalizations on Greek apparel were worthwhile: because they treat their clients like their own kin. 

“I said, ‘Your daughters are getting married, you planned this beautiful wedding and you picked out the caterer, the music, the venue and all the flowers, but the day of the wedding the dress doesn’t show up — then you are making the dress,’” Deacon recalled of the conversation. “That is what that is like for these young ladies. The first time they get to don those letters is a really important day and I told the guys that missing a deadline for something like this is not an option.”

In addition to his nine central employees, Show Your Spirit has one to two interns a semester and student ambassadors across the country. Deacon and his wife also work as volunteers every year at Chapman University’s commencement. He told The Panther that seeing his clients walking on graduation day — some of whom he has known for their whole collegiate career — brings a tear to his eye. 

“I joke that we started with one kid and now we have hundreds,” Deacon said. “Getting to know some of the Greek communities and some of the clubs we know, a lot of times we will attend graduation because we want to see our kids walk.”

With commencement scheduled to occur over the two weekends of July 30 and Aug. 6, students are awaiting the moment they can throw their caps in the air despite the challenges set forth by the pandemic.  Alexis Hill, a senior communication studies major said her blue stole, adorned with her Pi Beta Phi sorority letters, is ready for the big day. Despite the altered sense of reality in a pandemic, she hopes graduation will bring some normalcy. 

“It hasn't hit me because school has been online and it’s kind of repetitive at this point not being on campus, but I think definitely getting (my stole) in the mail made it seem more real,” Hill said. 

Brittany Pacheco, the associate director of academic events and responsible for running commencement, told The Panther that seniors should keep an eye out for an April 15 email with a link to RSVP for the ceremony. Any updates, questions or concerns regarding commencement can be directed to the email commencement@chapman.edu.

Looking ahead to the future, Deacon said he hopes students will focus on the friendships and the perseverance Chapman imparts on its students. Just like how his business strives to make everyone’s dream become a reality, Deacon strives for all his clients — family, in his eyes — to succeed in all they do as well. 

“You guys got this and Chapman prepares you,” Deacon said, referring to graduating seniors. “I’ve seen students out there and the students we have made letters for; they call us from their companies now and it truly is a blessing. When I say dealing with you students is a blessing for us, it really is. It’s lifelong relationships that we have built.”