The gold and green of the Southeastern ring possess special meaning. The gold represents
value and endurance while the green represents the new life gained after graduation.
The Lion's Roar / Tamara Alexander
Seniors celebrated another milestone as they received custom-made class rings during one of their last gatherings before graduation.
The Senior Ring Ceremony was held May 7 at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, and committees from the Alumni Association and Division for Student Affairs sponsored the event. The official ring, crafted by the L.G. Balfour Co., is only offered to alumni and students who are in good standing. Seniors must have at least 75 credit hours complete to receive the honor of representing the traditions and values of the university.
Dr. Marvin Yates, vice president of Student Affairs, welcomed and congratulated the seniors called up by Dr. Joe Burns, who served as the emcee. Alexis Quackenbush, SGA president, assisted Yates as he handed the rings to each senior and took a picture.
“I think it is an important event because no matter where you go, when you run into someone who has that ring on, you will have something in common with them,” said Kathy Pittman, director of the Alumni Association. “You will know that they are part of the Southeastern family. The Alumni Association binds all these people together for this tradition that has been going on for nine years. We hope it will go on into perpetuity.”
The gold represents value, endurance and education, while the green stone symbolizes new life found after earning a degree. The ‘S’ in the center stands for Southeastern, and the circle around it illustrates friendships and memories that go on forever.
“I really enjoyed the ceremony, and it made me value the ring more and understand where it actually comes from,” said Lela Kaufman, senior criminal justice major. “From here, I hope to obtain my masters at the University of Texas at Dallas and then law school.”
Each student stood with right hand raised and recited the Southeastern Oath of Pride and put on their rings for the first time. Jim McHodgkins, assistant vice president of student affairs, gave the last remarks.
“Even as Southeastern has grown to its current size, we have not lost that culture of caring that is typical of a much smaller institution,” said McHodgkins. “Faculty and staff at Southeastern truly care about the welfare and success at our students. We strive to create a culture whereby people endeavor to excel.”
Julie Perise, assistant director of the Alumni Assocation, led in the singing of the alma mater. Dr. Burns invited all to celebrate the graduates’ ability to excel with food and refreshments following the ceremony.
“This ceremony is a celebration of our accomplishment saying that we finally made it as seniors,” said Curtshandra Duplechain, senior family consumer science major. “[The ring] represents a symbol of pride, something I can always have to represent my school and me graduating.”
Proud parents were applauded for their years of help in assisting their children in higher education.
“I’ve been in school for six years and I plan to go to physical therapy school after this,” said Alexander Lachney, senior general studies major. “I’m done. [I have had the support of] my immediate family and girlfriend. My ring is here and it has many special qualities. ”
Other family members and friends were in attendance to congratulate the soon-to-be graduates.
“I’m so very proud of him,” said Sharon Flores of Lacombe. and grandmother to Lachney. “It’s been a long road, he stuck with it and made it. I hope he finds a happy life.”
The students will officially celebrate their graduation during commencement this Saturday in the University Center at 10 a.m