| |
 |
|
| Class Rings |
| |
| The Class of 1911 was the first at Virginia Tech to have a Class ring. However the Class Ring Tradition truly
began in 1912 when the Class of 1914 chose a student committee to design a Class ring which would be
unique and meaningful to Class members. Today, Virginia Tech is one of only a few colleges and universities
that maintains a class ring tradition. Two major traditions combine to make the Virginia Tech Ring Program
unique: the design and the presentation of the rings. Virginia Tech introduces an entirely new collection of
designs for each class. Each year, the Sophomore class selects a Ring Committee responsible for designing
their class ring collection. Each collection includes certain elements: the screaming eagle, American flag,
campus buildings, and an interlocking chain around the bezel. The screaming eagle evolved from a pair of
twin eagles used on the first Virginia Tech ring, symbolizing the twin virtues of strength and freedom. The
American flag and campus buildings serve to recognize both the heritage of our country and Virginia Tech.
The chain represents the strength of many united as one. From there, the Ring Committee designs a class
ring representing the unique characteristics of their respective class. The Committee must also name their
collection, usually in honor of an outstanding Virginia Tech graduate. For example, the Class of 2002 named
their collection after Homer Hickam, Jr., award winning author of October Sky. The Class of 2000 chose to
honor Colonel Harry Downing Temple '34, an unofficial historian for Virginia Tech and a member of his class's
Ring Committee - one of the orginals.During each class's junior year, at the Annual Ring Premiere, the
Collection is unveiled and class-members can order their rings. The rings are not delivered until the week of
Ring Dance, held in the spring of the class's junior year. A display case in the Williamsburg Room, Squires
Student Center, contains Virginia Tech class rings since 1921. The display was dedicated during the 1991 and
1986 class reunion in November of 1996. |
| |
| |
|
|
