NOVEMBER 30, 2022 — As hundreds of students prepare to graduate from UTSA and close a chapter in their lives, many will carry a memento with them that will always remind them they are Roadrunners—a class ring.
This semester, nearly 400 students will join the UTSA alumni who have taken part in this long-standing tradition of receiving a class ring.
The ring, which serves as a symbol of pride and accomplishment, creates a bond between alums and future graduates.
The UTSA class ring is not like any other college ring. Since 2012, every UTSA class ring—9,000 to date—has stayed overnight at the historic Alamo the night before the ring ceremony. The rings are hand-delivered by the UTSA Alumni Association in a secure box for the tradition. UTSA is the only university in San Antonio to house its rings at the historic Texas landmark.
“There are few places as iconic as the Mission San Antonio de Valero, and being able to house our rings overnight in the Alamo before our ring recipients put them on their fingers is an unforgettable way to forever connect our graduates’ accomplishments to the deep and rich history of San Antonio and Texas,” said Director of Alumni Programs Veronica Parker.
While the Alamo serves as a sacred place for the rings to rest, it’s also a part of the symbolism featured on the ring itself.
On one side of the ring, the Alamo is pictured with the words, “From our hills of oak and cedar to the Alamo," which is the opening line of the UTSA alma mater. These words represent the continued growth of the university; the trees lining Main Campus and the Alamo representing the Downtown Campus.
The other side features the Sombrilla, the iconic gathering place for students to meet with friends, grab a bite to eat or work on homework. Accompanying the Sombrilla image is Rowdy, the UTSA mascot, and native Texas plants such as bluebonnets, wildflowers, and cacti to signify the Southwest.
On top of the rings lays the university seal, which will distinguish a UTSA Roadrunner from other college graduates. Wrapped around the university seal is the motto “Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis,” which translates to “A cultivated mind is the guardian genius of democracy,” a quote by the Republic of Texas president Mirabeau B. Lamar.
The images within the seal represent this exact motto. The shield signifies protection, while the open book in the shield stands for higher learning. The star at the bottom of the seal represents the Republic of Texas and the wreath with the olive branch stands for a symbol of peace.
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This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt 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 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.
