University of Louisiana at Lafayette seniors who want to take part in this semester’s ring ceremony must order their rings by March 13.
The date of the ceremony has not been determined yet but the event is expected to be held in April.
The University unveiled its first official ring on Sept. 1, 2012, at a home football game. During a ceremony in November, University President Dr. Joseph Savoie presented rings to students who had ordered them earlier in the semester.
About 600 friends and family were on hand for the inaugural event. University officials hope the ring presentation will become a tradition each spring and fall.
The official ring “signifies the bond between the university’s more than 105,000 graduates and their alma mater,” Savoie said.
Alumni and students who have completed at least 90 credit hours are eligible to order it.
A committee made up of students, administrators and staff designed the ring, which is sold exclusively by Balfour. UL Lafayette has adopted five official ring designs, two for men and three for women.
The official ring design includes elements related to UL Lafayette. The red stone represents the university's primary color, vermilion, and also features its fleur-de-lis. The university has used fleurs-de-lis in its insignia since the 1920s, signifying the region's French heritage.
Additional imagery includes cypress and oak trees; the university's seal; and Martin Hall, the main administrative building. Inside each ring is the inscription "heart and hand," the final words of the university's alma mater.
An alum or student who owns an older UL Lafayette ring – manufactured by any company – can send it to Balfour before Sept. 1, 2013, to have it made into an official university ring at no cost.
For more information, visit www.balfour.com. Official university rings also can be ordered through University Bookstore.
Contact: communications@louisiana.edu