Mike VI will stand guard for this year’s class rings Saturday night, pacing and protecting graduating students’ golden momentos through the night before they are bestowed on future graduate’s fingers by Miss LSU and the costumed Mike the Tiger.
This semester’s two ring ceremonies will be held in the Student Union Theater at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday. Students receiving rings are categorized by last name.
According to the University’s website, class rings are a way to memorialize the college experience and are awarded only to graduates, students with at least 75 credit hours and graduate students who have taken at least 18 hours.
The design of the traditional University class ring depicts magnolia leaves, the campus’ oak trees, the Memorial Tower, a tiger’s eye and the University gates. They are priced depending on the metal used, gemstones added and size of the ring, which is selected by each student according to the University’s Balfour website.
The prices range from about $410 to $1,725. Students can choose from different styles, some larger than others.
Danielle Walker, a mass communication senior receiving her ring on Sunday, said her ring is important to her both because of her college memories and because her mom and dad didn’t attend college.
“I think its a good keepsake; even after graduation I’m still going to wear it,” Walker said. “I got my name engraved on the inside. When I was choosing it I wanted it to be traditional-looking, but not too bulky.”
Rachel Bourgeois, marketing freshman, said she didn’t know college graduates got class rings.
“I thought it was only a high school thing, “ Bourgeois said.
For Paige Bahnsen, sports administration senior, her class ring represents all the hard work she put in to earn her degree. She said she decided to get a ring because she didn’t get a high school class ring.
Bahnsen said a ring is a way to take her time at the University with her wherever she ends up after graduation.
“I look down at it and see all the memories, all the late nights, all the hard work and fun things,” Bahnsen said. “LSU has my heart and it will always be with me.”