As one of its most cherished traditions, more than 100 Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College students will participate in the on-campus ceremony recognizing them for their academic achievement with the symbolic onyx Woods Ring on Saturday, March 28.
This year’s theme will be “Adventure Awaits: The World Needs What You Bring”. There will be one ceremony at 1 p.m. in the Harvey Auditorium in the Conservatory of Music on the SMWC campus. The doors will open at 12:30 p.m.
Guests will be required to present a ticket for the campus ceremony. Ring recipients will receive details on how to get their tickets. A total of 116 students are receiving rings this year.
In 1922, The Woods Ring was designed by students Margaret Williams Mead, 1922 and Dorothy Helm Geisel, 1923. They worked with Herff Jones Jewelers to create the perfect ring. It was first given to the seniors in 1922. This year will mark the 104th Ring Day. Today, Indiana jeweler J. Lewis Small handcrafts each Woods Ring.
“As we prepare to award more than 100 rings or pendants to students from our campus, online and graduate programs, we are thrilled to welcome their family and friends to campus to share in the celebration of this significant academic achievement,” said Janet Clark, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
This year’s featured speaker will be Dawn Tomaszewski, SP, ’74, general superior of the Sisters of Providence. She is a graduate of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in communications. She also has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina and a master’s degree in theology from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Sister Dawn entered the Congregation on Aug. 29, 1975.