The Lion’s Roar / Reid Allen/ Tiffany Nesbit
Upcoming graduates celebrate receiving their class rings  with family and friends at this semester’s Ring Ceremony.  Shinning with green and gold, the rings represent all the hard work put into the years of  college and the years to come. 

Excited upcoming graduates are taking the next step toward this semester’s graduation.

The university held the Spring Ring Ceremony on May 5 at 7 p.m. inside the Student Union Theatre. A total of 87 students received their rings. 

“It feels somewhat surreal,” said senior communication major Morgan Beard. “It is really exciting. I am ready to walk across the stage next week and let graduating college sink in.” 

Senior communication major Deborah Ayme feels like her hard work has paid off greatly and that the ring is a great symbol of her accomplishments.

“I feel like the ring is important,” said Ayme. “I can’t carry around a physical degree with me everywhere, but I can wear my ring as a symbol. It makes me very proud, especially since I am an older student. My hard work has paid off.”

Families were there to show their support including senior kinesiology major Lauren Standford’s mother, Linda Crane.. 

“I am very proud of her,” said Linda Crane. “It is a good feeling to be able to see her succeed.” 

Some had a rough time choosing their ring. In the end, they were excited to receive it. 

“It feels amazing and very relieving to finally choose the perfect ring,” said Standford. “It was kind of stressful choosing the right one, but I definitely went with the right choice. I am happy I got it.”

Some students had an easy time choosing their ring and knew exactly what they wanted.

“It was simple deciding on my ring,” senior general studies major Christa Sevin. “My mom and I sat down to look at my options, and we had fun with it.” 

With their rings picked out, seniors were ready to participate in the ceremony.

The ceremony started off with the Master of Ceremonies by KSLU radio station manager Todd Delaney introducing Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Jim McHodgkins as he walked on stage to welcome all attendees. The President of the university Dr. John L. Crain gave the presentation of the official rings. 

The class rings were designed specifically with green and gold to represent the university’s traditional colors with gold representing value, endurance and education, while green is for new life through the earning of a degree.  It is two sided. On one side shows the graduate’s degree, a symbol of friendship oak, the university’s lion mascot and three columns that represent the university’s three names: Hammond Jr. College, Southeastern Louisiana College and Southeastern Louisiana University. On the other side of the ring, it shows the graduation date decorated with oak branches. It also includes the Latin version of the university’s seal: Integrity, Fortitude and Fidelity, or Integritas, Fortitudo and Fidelitas. 

As students were presented with their rings, all at once they put their rings on and turned the name of the university facing outward to symbolize that they are now ready to face the real world. 

Closing the ceremony, the Alma Mater was lead by the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Julie Perise.