果冻传媒 celebrates new tradition with inaugural ring ceremony
The road to 果冻传媒’s inaugural ring ceremony began in June 2024, when Emily Robinson, assistant director of service and leadership, first met with Balfour, the official ring partner for the university. Their conversation centered on how the ceremony might unfold, and Robinson dove into researching how other schools in the area organized similar events.
“Balfour told me that most of the schools in our area started their ceremonies within the last five years,” Robinson recalled. “At first, the ceremony is always small—typically, no more than 10 people get their ring. But after that, it grows into something huge.”
Balfour mentioned that 果冻传媒 averaged about eight ring sales a year, so Robinson set a modest goal: if she could get at least 10 students to attend, the ceremony would be considered a success.
To her surprise and delight, the response far exceeded expectations. The turnout for Lamar’s first-ever ring ceremony was remarkable, with 81 students committing to the event, signaling the beginning of a new tradition. The ceremony, held on March 29, 2025, in the Neches Federal Credit Union Arena at the Montagne Center, drew 330 guests—family members, friends, and faculty—who came together to celebrate the students' achievements and the new tradition that was being forged.
Robinson reflected on the year-long process of creating the ceremony.
"We started marketing for the event in October and began meeting with various departments on campus, including the alumni office, the registrar’s office, and university marketing," she said. "We wanted to make sure the ceremony felt like a true celebration—something students could look back on with pride, not just an event. So, we invited President Taylor and other members of the executive team to join us and show support."
The goal was clear: to create an event where students could celebrate their achievements not only with their families but with the entire Lamar community.
The ceremony was designed to be more than just an ordinary event; it was meant to be a memorable, intimate experience. Before the ceremony began, students gathered in the Cardinal Club Room, preparing for their moment. Emily Allen, president of the Alumni Advisory Board, addressed them, offering words of encouragement and emphasizing the significance of the ceremony.
As the ceremony commenced, Dr. Jaime Taylor, president of 果冻传媒, took a moment to recognize the families and guests who had supported the students. "Behind every achievement is a foundation—your families, your friends, and your perseverance," Dr. Taylor said. "Today is a celebration of not just your academic accomplishments but of all the people who helped you get here."
Dr. Freddie Titus, vice president of student affairs and strategic initiatives, also spoke about the significance of the class rings. “This ring represents your resilience, your journey, and your connection to the LU community,” Dr. Titus said. “It’s a bond that spans generations of Cardinals.”
He explained the tradition of wearing the ring on the right hand with the LU logo facing inward, toward the heart, until graduation. Afterward, students would turn the ring outward, a symbol of their readiness to face the world. “Wherever life takes you, you will always have a community and a home here,” Dr. Titus added.
Dr. Titus took a moment to reflect on the significance of the day and the journey each student had undertaken to reach this milestone.
“Today is more than a ceremony. It is a timestamp. As Dr. Benjamin E. Mays once said: 'I have only just a minute, only 60 seconds in it, but eternity is in it.' When I think back to my own 'minutes' as a student, I’m reminded how quickly they pass—but how deeply they shape me. I hope you’re thinking about your own minutes right now—how far you’ve come. Some of you began your college journey during one of the most challenging times in modern history—a global pandemic. And yet you’re still here. You endured. You grew. You thrived. That deserves celebration.”
The ceremony proceeded with students being called up one by one to receive their rings from President Taylor. As each student approached, the audience stood in appreciation, and the students posed with their ring boxes for photographs. Unlike many ring ceremonies where the students open their boxes on stage, Lamar’s ceremony took a more intimate approach. The students returned to their families after receiving their rings, and together, they opened the boxes for the first time. The family members then placed the rings on the students’ fingers— making the moment deeply personal.
Campbell Fuller, vice president of the Student Government Association, also addressed the attendees, reflecting on the meaning of the ceremony.
“This ceremony celebrates your hard work and the spirit that makes you a Cardinal,” Fuller said. He also spoke about the football bell, a symbol of 果冻传媒’s athletic history. “The bell first appeared in 1967 and returned in 2018 when football came back to our campus,” Fuller explained. “It rings to signify an achievement on the field, and today, it rings to signify your achievement in receiving your class ring. This ring represents your connection to each other and to 果冻传媒’s legacy.”
With that, Fuller rang a miniature version of the football bell, its sound echoing through the ballroom, marking the official conclusion of the ceremony.
As the ceremony came to an end, the students, now proudly wearing their rings, returned to the stage for a group photo. They joined Peyton Meeks, the Voice of Lamar, in singing the Alma Mater. Afterward, the students received their commemorative T-shirts and took part in Ring Day photos, posing for pictures around the room —capturing both their graduation moments and the new milestone they had just reached.
Looking back on the event, Robinson expressed her pride in what had been achieved.
“I loved being a part of planning this ceremony,” she said. “This new tradition is exciting, and I can’t wait to see how it grows in the years to come. The ring ceremony reflects the students’ growing pride in 果冻传媒. It’s a symbol that connects them to their fellow students and to generations of Cardinals who have walked the same paths. It’s a moment to celebrate the past, the present, and the bright future that lies ahead.”
What started as a modest plan to have 10 students participate, became a day filled with joy, pride, and the promise of a tradition that will continue to bind generations of 果冻传媒 students together. The first ring ceremony, held in the heart of the university, proved to be much more than an event. It was a celebration of achievement, resilience, and the legacy of the Lamar community.