UTSA tradition: Students participate in official ring ceremonies

Mr. UTSA Carl Willis and Ms. UTSA Ileana Gonzalez (top photo) and other Roadrunners at the UTSA ring presentation ceremonies Dec. 12

By Tim Brownlee
Associate Director of Internal Communications

(Dec. 16, 2014) -- More than 300 UTSA students received their official UTSA rings in two ceremonies Dec. 12 at the H-E-B University Center Ballroom on the Main Campus. As family and friends looked on, the students were presented with their rings.

A UTSA tradition, the rings were housed overnight in the Alamo in downtown San Antonio. Participants received their rings in a keepsake box, an exclusive for the ceremony.

The ring marks a milestone in a student's academic career, is a lasting symbol of UTSA pride and accomplishment, and is a common bond between past and future graduates.

"It was great to be surrounded by all the other Roadrunners partaking in this awesome tradition," said Abril Villarreal, a technical communications major who will graduate in May 2015. "The best moment was near the end, once we wore the ring for the first time, put our birds up and chanted U-T-S-A. I felt like that sealed the ceremony perfectly."

Newly crowned Ms. UTSA Ileana Gonzalez and Mr. UTSA Carl Willis also participated in the ceremony and shared their thoughts about the UTSA ring.

"Receiving my ring meant that I finally got to carry my UTSA legacy," said Gonzalez. "It is so much more than just a ring. It portrays generations and generations of hard work that has been put in. Receiving my UTSA ring is a blessing and a daily reminder that now and forever, I am a Roadrunner at heart."

"This UTSA ring is a confirmation to me of my alignment with the university," said Willis. "It instills in me the feeling of being a part of the UTSA family. It will always serve as a remembrance of the hard work I've put in during my collegiate career as well as the love, growth and knowledge The University of Texas at San Antonio has provided me."

The official UTSA ring program is administered by the UTSA Office of Alumni Programs through the UTSA Bookstores. Alumni, juniors and seniors who have completed 60 credit hours are eligible to participate in the ceremony.

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Learn more about the UTSA Ring Ceremony at the UTSA Alumni website.

View a UTSA Ring Ceremony photo gallery.

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Events

April 15-19, various times

Spring 2024 Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Showcase

The UTSA Office of Undergraduate is proud to celebrate National Undergraduate Research with an annual event sponsored by the (OUR) featuring students will showcase undergraduate student research and creative endeavors from all disciplines across campus.

Various Locations

Tuesday, April 16, 6:30 p.m.

Resiliencia y Más Corazón: Las Tejanas, The Soul of Mexican American Music

This community event is hosted by the UTSA Mexican American Studies Program. It is a lecture/performance that examines the contributions of Tejana musicians to the evolution of Mexican American music.

Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, 922 San Pedro Ave.

Wednesday, April 17, 11:00 a.m.

Asian Fanfair

Asian Fanfair is an event that highlights our APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) identities on campus. The event will feature performances from our AAPI interest Student Organizations, a tabling fair, and some cultural cuisine.

Student Union Paseo, Main Campus

Wednesday, April 17, 11:00 a.m.

UTSA Veteran Resource Fair

Join us for a day dedicated to supporting and empowering our UTSA veterans! We're excited to announce our upcoming resource fair, designed specifically to ensure that our veteran students have access to the resources and networking opportunities they need to thrive in their academic and post-military lives.

Student Union Lawn, Main Campus

Wednesday, April 17, 4:00 p.m.

Text Analysis Using Python

This workshop will introduce participants to the basics of text analysis using Python and Jupyter Notebook on the Constellate Lab platform. We will create datasets in Constellate to analyze patterns, trends, and relationships of contents and more.

John Peace Library (JPL 3.02.32), Main Campus

Wednesday, April 17, 5:30 p.m.

Phi Kappa Phi Hosts Last Lecture with esteemed professor Diane Abdo

What would award-winning writing professor Diane Abdo say if it were her last lecture? Join us for our annual Last Lecture series on Wednesday April 17.

Multipurpose Room (BSE 2.102), Main Campus

Friday, April 19, 11:00 a.m.

Día en la Sombrilla

Día en la Sombrilla, formerly Fiesta UTSA, is a festival hosted each spring as a part of Fiesta® San Antonio events. Sponsored by Roadrunner Productions, the event features music, food, confetti, games, event t-shirts, and more.

Sombrilla Plaza and Central Plaza, Main Campus

Submit an Event

Spotlight

UTSA’s Mission

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.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

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.