• After accepting her ring, Rayshona McPhaul BA'18 (front right) recognized her grandmother, mother and best friend as the most influential women in her life, and promised to make them proud.

Filled with Comet pride, students and alumni celebrated officially receiving their UT Dallas rings at the annual spring ceremony.

“I feel honored that I am the first in my family to receive a college ring and to graduate with a bachelor’s degree,” said Juan Zaragoza BA’18, thanking his family and friends who helped propel him toward graduation.

The UTD Ring

UTD class ring in moon dust

The next Ring Ceremony will be held Monday, Dec. 17. Alumni and current students — undergraduate students with 75-plus hours and graduate students with 15-plus hours — are eligible to purchase UT Dallas rings. To learn more, visit the Office of Alumni Relations’ ring page.

During the May 8 event, supporters filled the lecture hall in the Edith O’Donnell Arts and Technology Building and cheered participants as they crossed the stage for individual ring presentations. Recipients then had the opportunity to make brief remarks.

Ryan Morton BS’18, a graduate of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, spoke to his father in the audience. 

“Your love and support means the world to me,” he said. “You’re the greatest man I know, and I hope that one day I can be as amazing, as awesome and as kind as you.”

Rings are presented to alumni and students who choose to purchase the tangible reminder of their UT Dallas experience. Ronald Overberg BS’79, MS’84, PhD’85 was the featured speaker at the event and reminded recipients of the privilege of wearing the UT Dallas ring.

“Every day when I put on my ring, I know what I did, I know where I came from and I know where I can go,” he said. “Look at your ring and be reminded of the sacrifices that you have made.”

After the formal program, participants adjourned to the reflecting pools on the mall to take part in the traditional dunking of the rings, ceremoniously covering them with UT Dallas water and University pride.

“I have loved my time at UTD,” said Caitlyn Wenner BS’16, MS’18. “I will never stop Whooshing.”