Whether you’re about to graduate from college or you’ve already started your career, there had to have been key professors or counselors that helped you get to where you are now. If they were your mentor, counselor, boss or even a friend all educators deserve a thanks! What is even an appropriate gift?  Do you need to get all of your professors a gift? Here are some tips and ideas for appropriate professor gifts during graduation.

Office Gifts

Like all college or university professors, they are always busy and sometimes unorganized. Help keep their office nice and tidy with a personalized office or desk gift. A personalized name plate, engraved with their names and titles adds a stately feel to their office. For the especially unorganized, an engraved pen holder or desktop organizer will work wonders. A set of personalized bookends make a classic and timeless gift for any professor and is something that they are sure to use and display for years to come.

Personal Professor Gifts

Are you and your professor close? Like, friends or even mentor/mentee? If so, a personal gift can totally be appropriate. A personalized photo frame with a photo of the two of you from the beginning of your journey is a great sentimental gift that they can display in their office. Do you share the love for the same sports team or hobby? You can also consider these base layers which are great pieces of clothing and can bring you many benefits when partaking in your sport or exercise. You can check out benefits of base layers here for more info! A pair of tickets or memorabilia can be a great gift! Even a bottle of their favorite wine and some local goodies make a great gift! Professors need fun and hobbies too!

Thank You Gift

If all else fails, an appropriate and thoughtful gift is a personalized thank you plaque. Personalized with their name and titles, you can even include a heartfelt message to them. A personalized pen set makes a great thank you gift for a professor because every time they use that pen, they will remember how they’ve helped you! Adorn the box with their name and a special thank you message to really make it a special gift. Whether they helped you graduate or were there for you when you needed someone, it is never too late to thank them!

Thanking a professor is a special gesture for everything they have taught and instilled in you. Some professors see you from your first year to the end of your term or even graduate program. The time and energy invested into you should be reciprocated. Do you need to give a gift to all of your professors? No, only the ones that really mean something to you and that have personally helped you. Being an educator is a thankless job, when it really doesn’t have to be. How have you thanked your professors or mentors in the past? How do you plan on thanking your professors?