Students and alumni conclude the ceremony by dunking their rings in the reflecting pool on the University mall.
UT Dallas ring recipients were treated to tears and cheers from family, friends, classmates, faculty and staff who came to support them at a recent ceremony.
After they were presented with their class rings, students and alumni offered thanks and praise to the crowd gathered in the Edith O'Donnell Arts and Technology Building.
Theodora Munyinda BS'14, MPA'15 spoke about the positive impact she hopes her degrees will have on her 12-year-old daughter.
“I hope this opens doors for her,” said Munyinda, who is originally from Zambia and is pursuing a career in government. Munyinda earned an “awesome” from her daughter, Lovelee Taylor, who cheered for her at the ceremony. Taylor said she’s proud of her mom for working and attending college at the same time.
Since it began in 2001, the ring ceremony has evolved into a rite of passage for many Comets.
“This ring represents countless hours of studying, reading and late nights,” said Steve Castaneda, who recently completed the Global Leadership Executive MBA. “I’ll look at it and remember that all the time.”
Joel Romero BS’15 delivered his message of gratitude in English and Spanish, in recognition of his family.
“I’m the first in my family to graduate from college, and it’s all possible because of this great University,” he said. “To my family, I want to give thanks for the support you’ve given me. … I love you all.”
To conclude the ceremony, participants dunked their rings in the reflecting pool on the University mall, ceremoniously covering themselves and their rings with UT Dallas pride.
In addition to all UT Dallas graduates, undergraduate students with at least 75 credit hours and graduate students with at least 15 credit hours are eligible to purchase rings. Ring ceremonies are held at the end of the fall and spring semesters.
Find out more about UT Dallas rings, and see how the ring is made. Or view more photos from the ceremony.
About The Ring
Comet Effects: The UT Dallas ring features the letters “UTD” on the top, which identifies the wearer as a graduate. One side emphasizes the University’s Texas heritage, displaying the state flag matched with a lone star and crossed by the UT Dallas Comet. The degree received is also designated. The other side includes the seal of The University of Texas System, the year of UT Dallas’ founding, 1969, and the year of the wearer’s graduation.
From left: Dr. James Carter, Dr. John Hoffman, University President ad interim Hobson Wildenthal and school mascot Temoc take part in a new ritual for the rings on the eve of the ceremony.
New Celestial Touch: As part of a new ritual on the eve of the ceremony, the rings are enclosed with equipment used in space provided by physics professor Dr. John Hoffman, in a box that geosciences professor emeritus Dr. James Carter built using wood sourced from the original Founders Building. The rings are surrounded by Carter’s lunar regolith simulant, or fake moon dirt, before spending the night in the office of the president. Carter, one of the world’s foremost experts on simulated moon dirt, created a process for manufacturing the fake variety after the first trip to the moon. Hoffman developed equipment that more recently enabled the detection of water on Mars.