As Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) continues to grow, so does the love for its traditions. The College will honor students for their academic achievement with the symbolic onyx Woods Ring on Saturday, April 13.
“Ring Day is a joyous 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 we had a record number of eligible ring recipients,” stated Elizabeth Reel ’21, content marketing manager and junior class advisor.
SMWC will hold two ring ceremonies in the Harvey Auditorium in the Conservatory of Music on campus. The first ceremony will honor campus students and take place at 12:30 p.m. The second ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. honoring Woods Online and graduate students. Doors will open for the first ceremony at noon and 2:30 p.m. for the second ceremony. This year’s ceremonies mark a memorable occasion as the traditional academic ceremony will take place in the Harvey auditorium, former home to the annual commencement ceremony until it outgrew the space nearly a decade ago.
In 1922, The Woods Ring was designed by students Margaret Williams Mead, 1922 and Dorothy Helm Geisel, 1923.They worked with Herff Jones Jewelers to create the perfect ring. It was first given to the seniors in 1922. This year will mark the 102nd Ring Day. Today, Indiana jeweler J. Lewis Small hand crafts each Woods Ring.
“As we prepare to award more than 140 rings to students and graduates, we are thrilled to welcome their family and friends to campus as we celebrate this significant achievement in our beautiful Harvey Auditorium. Bringing such a beloved event like Ring Day to the Conservatory of Music is a joy,” Reel said.
The theme of this year’s ceremonies is “Grow Your Roots, Extend Your Branches.”