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THE RING
TRADITION
Virginia
Tech is one of only a few colleges and universities that maintains a
class ring tradition. The Ring program is distinctive from other
colleges in that the entire ring collection is redesigned
for each class, and rings are presented at a formal Ring Dance.
The Virginia Tech Class Ring Tradition began with the Class
of 1914, the first to chose a student committee to design a ring that
would be meaningful to the Class. The Class Ring Design Committee
since that time has been selected during the sophomore year and is
responsible for creating a collection unique to each Class.
Traditional ring collection elements have changed somewhat over time
and currently include: the screaming eagle, American
flag, campus buildings and an interlocking chain around the bezel. From
there, the Ring Committee designs a class ring representing the unique
characteristics of their respective class.
Since
1991, the ring design process includes the selection of a Class
namesake. This is done as a dedication to a distinguished alumnus or
university president.
Established
by the Class of 1935, the Ring Dance weekend takes places in the
spring of a student’s junior year. The two-day celebration includes
a banquet honoring the ring collection’s namesake, the formal Ring
Dance and fireworks.
The
strong ring tradition at Tech inspires most students to order rings.
The large number of orders and the large physical size of the rings
(up to 40 dwt) make the Tech class ring the prestige order
of the of the college ring business. The result is fierce
competition between the major ring manufacturers for Tech's class ring
business. This competition contributes to the remarkable quality,
distinctive designs and generous manufacturer guarantees for which Tech rings are traditionally known.
Manufacturers that have made Tech rings in the past include Bailey,
Banks and Biddle; Charles Elliott; George Spies; Dieges and Clust;
John Roberts; Herff-Jones; Balfour and Jostens.
The company that was awarded the
privilege of producing Tech's 1971 class ring was Jostens. Jostens
1971 Class Ring guarantee:
Jostens will at any time:
~ resize the ring at no
charge
~ replace broken encrusting
at no charge if stone is undamaged
~ replace the ring for any
reason for $15 plus the old ring
~ refinish the ring at no
charge
~ complete repairs in three
weeks and total replacements in four weeks
The
Class Program, through the advising of the Virginia Tech Alumni
Association, maintains the tradition of the Virginia Tech Class Ring.
Through the Association, alumni must have their class year confirmed
before either ordering or replacing a ring to ensure the continued
integrity of the program. Dating back to 1923, almost all rings can be
replaced in their original design. The Virginia Tech Ring Display Case,
which houses Virginia Tech Class rings from 1914 until present, is
located in the Williamsburg Room of Squires Student Center.
Read
more about the Tech class ring tradition:
here
and
here.
Tech
class ring repair and replacement
procedures.
Virginia Tech Alumni
Association
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