The Aggie Ring: A Tradition, An Accomplishment, A Cultural Artifact

    The origin of the Aggie Ring at Texas A&M University began as early as 1889, 13 years after the University began operating as Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas in 1876. Since then, the Ring program has standardized the ring design and implemented specific guidelines for earning a ring based on hours of coursework successfully completed at the university. In 1933, a petition was brought to the faculty of the university by officers from the Class of '31 requesting restrictions to be placed on the purchase of an Aggie Ring. At that time, the request was for a student to be enrolled in the second semester of their junior year to qualify for purchase.

    

    Before women were allowed to attend the University, men could buy a "sweetheart ring" for their significant other to show that they, too, were a part of the Aggie family.

    

    Today, the requirement for an undergraduate to order their ring is a total of 90 completed credit hours, with 45 of the 90 hours completed on campus at Texas A&M. Additionally, the student must have a cumulative GPR of 2.0 or higher and be in good academic standing with the university. Presently, A&M averages around 15,000 students per year who complete the requirements and order their rings. Texas A&M University has the highest percentage of students who purchase school ring with 94% of qualified students purchasing their ring each year.

    The Association of Former Students, who operates the school's ring program, believes that is the strict requirements that must be completed in order to purchase a ring contribute to the overall success of the program. Over the past 20 years other schools who have wanted to increase the success of their ring programs have shifted their model to reflect that of A&M's, specifically with a single ring design, tight criteria, and a specific delivery date. Each part of the ring design carries special significance, which I believe sets it apart from other rings. It is a badge of honor and encompasses many of the core values of an Aggie, a physical representation of what is already part of the beliefs that Aggies have. Loyalty to the State of Texas, the United States of America, and the traditions of the university are all represented by each symbol on the ring.

    Personally, the Aggie Ring is incredibly significant to me and has influenced how and when I decided to come back to Texas A&M University to complete my degree. I was accepted to Texas A&M University as a freshman in 2005. I studied, worked, joined a sorority, and participated in campus life in College Station from Fall of 2005 until Fall of 2008. Due to significant family crisis and declining mental health as a result of that crisis, I left Texas A&M in December of 2008. What I did not know at the time is that I had completed 87 hours, only 3 hour short from earning my ring. I transferred for a short period of time to UTA and completed a few semesters there, but did not earn a degree. While there were many reasons for dropping out of college, one of them was that I did not want to earn my degree from another university. I have a special attachment to Texas A&M University, the culture of traditions, and the Aggie Ring. While I was a student from 2005-2008, I had several friends who earned their rings. I was able to participate in their celebrations and looked forward to when it would be my turn. 

     In November of 2023, I was attending a football game with my family, specifically my cousin and her husband, who have a huge Aggie family and many connections at the university. The game was early, so we enjoyed the game and tailgated afterwards getting the opportunity to network with other Aggies. One of the folks who stopped by the tailgate was Former Yell Leader Dave Lawhorne, Class of '86. It is interesting how in our life experiences, specific moments and specific conversations get crystallized in a way that we know we have marked a moment that has changed the trajectory of our life. For me, that day standing around visiting with the other Aggies at the tailgate, Dave said something that relit a fire inside me. We talked about the football team and some fun things that had happened during the game. There was a football tradition that had been dormant for almost 20 years and was brought back during the game that day. Those of us who are "Old Army" Aggies were enthusiastic about how much fun this tradition was and glad to see it again after so long. I shared my thoughts on the game and tradition and Dave responded to me, "We need you and your kind of thinking here at A&M." That sentence blew the doors open for me.

    Upon returning home my husband, who is not an Aggie, looked at me and asked me, "How do we get you your Aggie ring?" He had been with me, listening to the stories and seeing how each Aggie wore their rings proudly. About three weeks later, I applied to be readmitted to Texas A&M University to complete my English degree. After enrolling for Spring classes, my advisor informed me that I was already qualified to order my Aggie ring. I was able to order my ring on January 25, 2024 and will get my ring during Ring Week in April!

    In the song The Spirit of Aggieland that is sung here at A&M there is a phrase that says, "There's a Spirit can ne'er be told, it's the Spirit of Aggieland..." There is truly a spirit among Aggies, that really cannot be explained. The Aggie Ring is the symbol of that spirit. No matter where you go, you will find Aggies and upon recognizing the ring on each others finger will immediately be united in spirit because of the traditions and accomplishment that are shared and the artifact we bear on our finger as proof.

Sources: Texas Aggie Magazine, bibliography below

                Personal photos

                Photos taken at The Association of Former Students

Bibliography:

    Owen ’94, Sue . “The Aggie Ring: Why Is It the Country’s Top Ring Program?” Texas Aggie, vol. 104, no. 2, 6 Mar. 2024, pp. 34–43, www.aggienetwork.com/news/160690/read-the-latest-texas-aggie-issue/.