Full scholarships
Camilo Avila
Melissa M. Beene
Robert Leos
Steffany Gutierrez
Partial ring scholarships ($250)
Robert Wiseman Jr.
Antonio Gamez
Zaira Rodriquez
Aracely Vargas
Recipients will be publicly announced at the 14th Ring Ceremony at 6 p.m. tonight at Charles Boggess Center, 12121 S. E. Loop 410.
The biannual ceremony is held prior to graduation to present graduates and scholarship recipients with a University ring. The Ring Ceremony is open to the public and no tickets are required.
Scholarship applicants were required to submit two letters of reference and a personal essay, all read by President Maria Hernandez Ferrier.
Betty Villegas, administrative assistant in the office of student engagement and success, said there will be 140 to 145 students participating in the ceremony.
During the ceremony, students will also learn the history behind the ring’s creation and the meaning of each caste set symbol.
History of the ring
“In fall 2009, a committee of staff and students discussed what they wanted the ring to look like,” said Laura Pantano, associate vice president of student engagement and success. “An artist from Herff Jones then designed the ring.”
The ring’s symbols relate specifically to the university and its surroundings.
“We wanted something creative that fit the university and San Antonio,” Patano said. “We wanted the ring to be identifiable.”
“We came down and searched around San Antonio for symbols that could connect with the college and the students,” Herff Jones Sales Representative Greg McDonald said. “Every student should have this ring because they are part of a new tradition and can wear a ring tied that is tied to tradition designed with strong meaning.”
“Most college rings aren’t like this,” he added.
“All students should come to understand the significance and meaning of the ring,” Villegas said.
The ring design and style choices
Engraved symbols include:
- The rose window: The enduring commitment and devotion to the University;
- Three bells: The three main areas of study at the University — Schools of Business, Arts and Sciences and Education and Kinesiology;
- The Texas Flag and Star: The pride of Texas;
- The words integrity and tradition: The core values of A&M-San Antonio;
- A cactus and mesquite: The personification of students’ ability to survive and prosper;
- An archway: Independence;
- A keystone: Leadership;
- Roman Numeral MM: The year 2000 when the campus was created as a system center;
- Roman Numeral MMIX: 629 is the senate bill that gave the University its stand alone status;
- The columns of the archway: Strength;
- Praestare: Outstanding;
- Commendare: Distinguished;
- Praestare and Commendare: The commitment into the care, keeping and protecting of someone or something;
- The Jaguar: Strength and power;
- The bricks: The University’s foundation;
- The San Antonio River: Life;
Rings come in both silver and gold, with a choice of natural or antique finish. Gold comes in both yellow and white, and both colors have the choice of 10 Karat, 14 Karat, and 18 Karat.
Silver includes full silver and ultrium which is a silver colored stainless steel metal.
There is an option to include a stone which has the choices of 1.5 pt cubic zirconia and 1.5 pt diamond.
Names can be engraved on the inside of the ring in full script or block initials, with the option to include graduation year and degree obtained .
Prices range from $370 to $1200.
Rings can be ordered during Herff Jones visits on campus or from their website, www.herffjones.com.
