To accommodate 104 ring recipients, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) held one ring ceremony at 11 a.m. in the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
Receiving a Woods Ring is an emotional experience, but this year served with great significance and evidence of the future. The 2023 ring recipients mark the first class of the next century to reach the achievement. Kaylynn Barton, Junior class president, shared that their class was honored to hold such a significant role in the tradition.
“With our class being the first class of the next century to receive our Woods rings, we are promising to uphold the traditions and the meaning of the ring as we move forward. I know I will always look at my ring as a reminder of the promises I’ve made while at SMWC,” Barton said.
The theme of this year’s ceremony was Promises. Significant to every ring ceremony, several promises are made by recipients and their families and the faculty, staff and alumni of the College.
After each recipient receives their ring, they may take a flower to someone in attendance to exhibit their appreciation and support during their journey as a student. Flowers can be given to family, faculty members, staff members or friends. Through the years, it’s become a treasured tradition during the Ring ceremony.
For Brandi Adams ’06, a current student in the Master of Leadership Development (MLD) Program, today served with purpose for the future. Adams, who graduated from the campus program in 2006 and already earned one Woods ring, decided to purchase another one when she was eligible through the MLD Program in hopes to pass it on in her family. “I earned my Woods ring during my undergrad, but since I have two daughters, I decided to get another one. If they do decide to attend SMWC, I wanted to have a ring for each of them,” Adams shared.
Although it was her first time on campus, Wood Online student Bethany Clotfelter shared that The Woods really does feel like home. “I’m flabbergasted at the beauty of this place. You see and hear about it all the time online, but it doesn’t do it justice when you are physically here. Earning my ring really doesn’t feel real; it’s like a dream. To know that the Woods ring is known all the around the world is amazing and truly an honor to be a part of,” Clotfelter said.
Not only does the day make students feel more connected to The Woods, but for Emma Saunders, it deepened her connection to multiple family members. Her mother, Catherine Mickey Saunders ’98, associate vice president for advancement and grandmother, Trudy Ayer Mickey ’74 were both present at the ceremony. Emma comes from a line of Woodsies as her great aunts, Barbara “Bobbie” Norton O’Brien ’67 and Marie Ayer Roberts ’81, also attended SMWC.
The Woods Ring symbolizes academic achievement, as students must be enrolled in their 90th credit hour to ensure their eligibility for a Woods ring. For Adam Stattner, Emma Chambers and Amanda Ludlow, the day served with more emotional purpose. Stattner joins his siblings, Ethan Stattner, a senior music therapy student, and Emily Stattner ’20. “It feels so good to receive my ring, especially after returning from studying abroad. The Woods serves as another place where my siblings and I have connected, especially going through the same program. It just feels good,” Stattner shared.
Chambers and Ludlow, who are mother and daughter, shared the day as both received their rings. “It just means so much that we were able to experience it together,” Ludlow shared. “It means so much more than it already did having my mom by my side throughout the process. We’re very thankful that our family could be here to celebrate with us,” Chambers added. Chambers and Ludlow also come from a family of Woodsies as they are niece (Chambers) and sister (Ludlow) to Sarah Stultz Mahady ’05, director of alumni relations. They have several more SMWC alums in their family.
In her welcome to open the ceremony, President Dottie L. King, Ph.D., shared, “The theme of Promises for this year’s ceremony is perfect. I can’t imagine there are many college rings that are presented to students by the college president, in a grand ceremony, with a Ring Song. There really is no place like The Woods.”
Watch the ceremonies below!