On Thursday night, Dec. 5, the Student Government Association hosted the Auburn University Ring Night and Ceremony, a uniquely Auburn tradition that presents upcoming graduates with their university class rings. Ring Night participants are formally bestowed their class rings every fall and spring semester, a tangible reminder of their lifelong link to Auburn.
At 5 p.m., juniors and seniors accompanied by supporting family members, friends and classmates gathered at Langdon Hall for the ceremony. All Fall 2024 Ring Night participants ordered their ring during Ring Week in mid-September.
Despite the low temperatures, participants eagerly waited for their turn in the historical ceremony, with them picking up their rings on Samford Lawn upon arrival.
Sponsored by Auburn University and SGA, the university ring is “a symbolic, continuous link with university experiences, fellow classmates and alumni,” and serves as an unchanged reminder of past, current and future generations.
Available through jewelry company Balfour, the officially licensed Auburn University rings come in two traditionally masculine and three traditionally feminine designs, all of which adorn the Auburn seal or "AU." Depending on the stones and metals, rings range from $400 to $1,500.
In the ceremony, each student touched their ring to the Auburn University seal, absorbing the Auburn spirit and the seal's curse into the ring. Afterward, students wash away the curse by dipping their rings in water from the President’s fountain.
According to SGA, this ceremony “leaves the Auburn spirit behind to live on in the ring and in the heart of its owner forevermore,” connecting them with Auburn alumni and current and future Auburn students.
Ahead of the ceremony, Madison Carter, a senior history student with a minor in women’s and gender studies, described the surreal night as “one of [her] last big moments as an Auburn student.” Graduating in a week, she also explained her ring’s personal significance.
“[The ring is] so special to me. I am, like, the fifteenth person in my [family] to go to Auburn,” Carter said. “Auburn has always been my dream, and I’ve always loved it, and having this ring, showing that I went here, and I got to experience everything is just absolutely amazing.”
Although the ceremony has historical significance, many students including Carter did not know what to expect.
“I knew, kind of, the lore behind touching it to the seal and the water, but I had no clue what it was coming in,” said Carter.
Others in line like friends Aby Abercrombie, senior in biomedical science, and Katie Boyd, senior in nursing, shared similar sentiments about the ceremony before their turns.
“It’s exciting. I was just telling Aby that I remember coming with my sister, like three years ago when she was graduating to get her ring,” Boyd said. “It’s just funny to see that to me now, so that’s super awesome.”
Supporting the ring’s connectivity among Auburn Family members, Abercrombie mentioned her cousin’s ring helped her choose hers and showed her Dinner Ring, a popular piece among female Auburn students.
“My cousin had gotten this [ring] and I just loved hers, and I wanted one too,” Abercrombie said.
After the ceremony, students reconnected with their loved ones, taking photos with their rings and enjoying hot chocolate and other cuisine. Fan favorite Aubie also made a special appearance, quickly accumulating a line for photos.
After her ceremony, Belen Izquierdo, a senior studying human development and family science, said the friendly workers made the night good, quick and fun. She also joked touching the seal “felt, kind of, wrong,” referencing the associated curses Auburn students are wary of.
Izquierdo decided to purchase the same ring as her friends, yet the ring is still unique to her Auburn experience.
“I think [the ring is] really significant. It’s my Auburn experience,” Izquierdo said. “I feel like I can always have a little piece of Auburn with me, even when I’m not here.”
The Fall 2024 Ring Night and Ceremony formally bestowed the unique and historical Auburn University ring to upcoming graduates, connecting them to past, current and future generations of Auburn Tigers.
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