History Instructor and Fulbright Scholar, David Dry, gave President Dennis King a kalpak over the holidays. Dry, who is teaching in the Kyrgyz Republic for the 2016-17 academic year, presented King with the traditional headgear, which is said to symbolize the tall mountains of Kyrgyzstan.
According to the Monday Bazaar blog entry titled, “Hang On To Your Hats: An Exhaustive Guide to Central Asian Headgear,” Kalpaks come in several styles. All-white kalpaks are usually more formal and for festivals and other occasions. Everyday kalpaks usually have a black velvet lining. It is said that you must not kill a man wearing a kalpak and it must never be set on the ground or near your feet.