As Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) continues to grow, so does the love for its traditions. The College will be honoring students for their academic achievement with the symbolic onyx Woods Ring on Saturday, March 26. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Woods Ring, which will make each ceremony all the more meaningful.
“Ring Day is a milestone in a Woods student’s journey. The Woods ring is an outward symbol of their academic achievement and bond with the Woods community. This year is especially exciting as it is also a milestone for the beloved tradition itself. First awarded to seniors in 1922, our ring has encircled student and alumni fingers for 100 years,” stated Catherine Saunders ’98, associate vice president for advancement and junior class advisor.
SMWC is excited to announce that two ceremonies will take place in The Church of Immaculate Conception on campus at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Due to the pandemic, the last two ring ceremonies have taken place in other locations on campus, including the Knoerle Center’s Hamilton Arena and The Sunken Gardens.
“As we prepare to award more than 110 rings to undergraduate and graduate students, we are blessed to return to the Church of Immaculate Conception for our celebration,” Saunders said.
The 10 a.m. ceremony will be honoring campus ring recipients, while the 1 p.m. ceremony will honor Woods Online and graduate ring recipients. Students and their families, faculty and staff are excited about the event. The theme of this year’s ceremonies is ‘Traditions’.