DECEMBER 9, 2020 — Nearly 400 Roadrunners will receive their class rings this month, joining a growing group of alumni taking part in a time-honored UTSA tradition: UTSA’s class rings are the only graduation keepsake to spend a night in the Alamo.
“It’s a unique way to tie our students’ accomplishments at UTSA to the history of San Antonio,” said Steve Woodall, interim executive director of the UTSA Alumni Association.
The ring ceremony, which began in 2001, is a tradition of its own. Hundreds of UTSA students and alumni purchase a class ring each semester, marking a milestone in their academic careers and celebration with their families and friends.
The university began placing the rings in the Alamo in 2012. Each semester Alumni Association staff packs the rings in a secure box and takes them to the historic landmark, where they spend a night before the official ring ceremony. To date, 4,048 UTSA class rings have been included in this special occasion.
“At UTSA every journey has a beginning and an end,” said Jerry Martinez, event services specialist in the Office of Alumni Programs. “The ring represents the full circle of accomplishments that students have experienced at UTSA.”
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, UTSA will conduct a virtual ring ceremony. Students and alumni will learn about their class ring’s history and significance and receive a certificate stating that the ring stayed in the Alamo.
During virtual Commencement celebrations, students who have purchased rings similarly begin the event with their rings facing inward. At the end they will be called upon to turn their rings around as an outward sign of their membership in the UTSA community.
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At this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusJoin us for a tribute to Willie Velásquez, honoring the legacy of Willie Velásquez, a pivotal figure in shaping the history of Latino and Hispanic participation in the American voting process. Delve into his life and contributions as a champion of Latino voting rights. Moderated by UTSA's Teresa Niño, the event will feature influential voices, including Jane Velásquez, María Antonietta Berriozábal, Dora Oliva, and Anthony Gonzales.
Buena Vista Building, Gregory Luna Room, Downtown CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
