By APRIL HOL
Although graduation robes and hats will only be worn the day of graduation, there is a momento that many graduates will wear daily — class rings.
Artcarved Class Rings will be displaying their wares for students in the BYU Bookstore April 22 to April 26. Artcarved Representative Susan Kelly will be on hand to assist customers in deciding on the best choice of a ring to celebrate graduation from BYU.
Class rings were first worn by the cadets of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1837. These rings displayed the school insignia, graduation date and the design of a book with a sword driven through it, conveying the class’ contempt for their textbooks, according to David Willett, supervisor of college telesales for Artcarved. The rings also bore the motto, “Danger Brings Forth Friendship.”
In order to commemorate their long years of hard work at a university, many students choose to buy a class ring which will display such details as their major, degree letter, graduation date and many extracurricular activities.
“A class ring is a wearable resume,” Willett said. “It is a symbol of achievement, shows one’s school pride and can become a keepsake to pass on to future generations.”
Many graduation rings are purchased by the individuals graduating, but parents, spouses, other relatives and friends often give the rings as gifts. Some universities even purchase class rings for students receiving certain honors or awards.
Contrary to popular opinion, rings are not just for graduating seniors. Artcarved sells rings to underclassmen who are looking ahead to graduation but want to enjoy their ring now, Willett said. If a student’s graduation date changes, Artcarved will remake the ring with the new date on it.
