The Toller Celebration Bell rang in honor of the Official Ring recipients gathered at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House on April 13, 2010. The Arkansas Alumni Association hosted a record crowd of recipients and their families and friends gathered to celebrate the tradition of the ring.
Ann Wizer, a senior and Student Alumni Board member, opened the evening with a welcome and introduction of Elizabeth S. Underwood, associate director of the Arkansas Alumni Association. Underwood shared the history of the official ring and the symbolism of its design. Underwood provided wearing instructions for the ring and began the ring presentations. The students were called forward individually, awarded a ceremony certificate and presented in groups by their College or School. The first group represented the first college founded on University of Arkansas campus, the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and continued in order of the founding dates of each college or school. As each group was presented to the crowd the students proudly put on their rings at the same time.
Following the presentation, each student marked their place in the tradition of the ring by signing the Official Ring Ceremony book. The book is a permanent record of all ring ceremony participants and is kept in a place of honor in the Underwood Library at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House.
Check out the Ring Ceremony Photos on Flickr
Holding true to tradition, the ring ceremony ended with the singing of the Alma Mater, led by Wizer, and a special champagne toast by Underwood welcoming the recipients to the Arkansas Alumni Family.
Students who were unable to attend and receive their Official Ring can pick it up at the University of Arkansas Bookstore on campus. Graduates and qualified students can order the ring online directly from Jostens (your information will be validated through the Registrar’s Office prior to manufacturing), or by contacting the Arkansas Alumni Association at 479-575-2801, the UA Bookstore at 479-575-2156, or Jostens at 800-854-7464. You must know your finger size to order.
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