This is a very cool gift idea, found on the site ThankfullyThrifty.com:

For a practical gift, try a going away to college basket! You could take a shower caddy and fill it with lots of goodies! Make sure the caddy is plastic with holes in it, to let water drain out. Stuff it with shower goods, shower shoes, Febreeze, ear plugs, etc. Or for another spin on this, fill a collapsible mesh laundry basket (like these – upright or horizontal) with coins for the washers and dryers, detergent, dryer sheets, a laundry cheat sheet, stain remover, and more! Nothing like stocking up that graduate with supplies to take care of him or her self.