Members of the fall 2021 class are joining the thousands of UTSA alums who have taken part in the timeless tradition of receiving a college class ring.

This fall, nearly 500 UTSA students will receive a class ring as a representation of their college journey and lifelong status as a Roadrunner. The rings will be distributed during the Fall 2021 Ring Ceremony, scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, December 9, at the H-E-B Student Union Ballroom.

Students will receive their official UTSA ring in the presence of their friends, family and university dignitaries at this prestigious occasion.

Prior to the event, the UTSA Alumni Association will deliver the rings in a secure box to the Alamo, where they will stay overnight, following the tradition of nearly 10,000 UTSA rings that have stayed there since 2012. UTSA class rings are the only college rings in San Antonio housed at the Alamo.

The rings display the university seal with the motto “Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis.” The motto 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 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.

One side of the ring features the Alamo. The phrase wrapping around the image, “From our hills of oak and cedar to the Alamo," is the opening line of the UTSA alma mater. These words represent the continued growth of the university–the trees lining the Main Campus and the Alamo representing the Downtown Campus.

The Sombrilla, the iconic gathering place for students to meet with friends, grab a bite to eat or work on homework, is visible on the other side of the ring. Accompanying the Sombrilla image is Rowdy, the UTSA mascot, signifying the spirit and tradition of the university. Native Texas plants such as bluebonnets, wildflowers and cacti signify the Southwest.

Ring recipients are encouraged to share their rings on social media using the hashtag #UTSARing.