Woods Ring Sculpture, Ring Scholarship announced at Ring Centennial Dinner

The most iconic symbol of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) is the ring that students are awarded during their journey at The Woods. A Ring Centennial was held to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of The Woods Ring and to announce a new sculpture that will be placed on campus commemorating the Ring.

More than 200 people attended the celebration in the McMahon Ballroom in Le Fer Hall. The event raised money for the sculpture in addition to $50,000 to fund the Woods Ring Scholarship Program to award approved scholarship applicants funds to assist in purchasing a Ring.

Emilee Roush, senior class president and nursing major from Paris, Illinois spoke about her experience with the Ring. “I have only worn my ring for six months, but I have already experienced the joy I am sure that most of you feel when asked about your ring.” She is a part of the legacy ring program and wears her grandmother’s ring. “Now I am not only connected to a long line of Woodsies by wearing this Ring, but I am even more connected to my grandmother and the family legacy that she started.”

A proclamation was read by Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett proclaiming 2022 the year of the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Ring.

President Dottie L. King, Ph.D. shared how much the tradition has impacted her. She thanked the Sisters of Providence for helping to create this tradition by ensuring that the ring design did not change over the years, ensuring that the bond of the ring would endure over generations. She commented on placing the ring on each student’s finger, “I don’t take that lightly. I try to look into the eyes of each student and their hands shake. Sometimes I think that their hands shake from sheer adrenaline.” In her reflection to the audience, she said, “As we approached the 100^th anniversary of the Woods Ring, it was my grand dream that we would note it, not only with an evening like tonight but with a permanent structure on campus.”

King recognized prominent local sculptor Bill Wolfe and revealed the rendering of the ring sculpture he was commissioned to create which will be installed in front of the Sunken Gardens in front of Le Fer Hall. The piece will be made of Indiana limestone and granite and will feature the famous ring top design as its centerpiece. King gave a description of the sculpture and the meaning of much of the design.

Catherine Mickey Saunders ’98, associate vice president for advancement, reviewed some interesting facts about the ring and its origins. The Ring was designed in 1922 by Margaret Williams Meade ’22, and Dorothy Helm Geisel ’23. “How different were they from our students today? Not very. What is different is the mark that they left,” Saunders said. “Dorothy designed the SMW monogram and Margaret designed the oak leaf and acorn base.” As a result of their contribution to the design of the ring, Saunders announced that the ring scholarship would be renamed the Meade Geisel Ring Fund.

Saunders then asked, “Do you know the Ring Song Story?” An engraved tradition at the end of each Ring ceremony, the students stand and sing The Ring Song, written by the Class of 1962. Saunders explained that song was written as part of an old tradition where the juniors sang a unique song to the seniors after receiving their ring. When it was time for the Class of 1964 to write their song, they honored their Big Sis’ class of 1962 by singing the song they wrote. From then on, each class sang the Class of 1962’s song at the end of the ceremony. In 1987, it was proclaimed that the Class of 1962 be given credit for its lyrics by then SMWC President Sister Barbara Doherty ’53 through a memo discovered earlier in the week.

As a result of their contributions to the history of the Woods Ring, the garden around the ring sculpture will be named The Class of 1962 Ring Garden and honored with a plaque at the base of the sculpture.

Saunders also announced another initiative by the Class of 1962. “Members of the Class of 1962 have encouraged their friends and classmates to sign a letter of intent to arrange the return of their Rings to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College through their estate plans. Several have already made that commitment and returned the documents.”   

Judy Reich Hoyt ’62 remarked representing the Class of 1962, “I was here for my 60^th reunion [in May] and there is still such a tradition that you can feel 60 years later, but there are also lots of changes. I think that is beautiful because the College is growing with the times.”

The event concluded with Peggy McCormick-Platz ’88, ’21G, alumni board president, leading the audience in The Ring Song by the Class of 1962.

Earlier in the day, students, faculty, staff and alumni gathered in Le Fer Hall for the dedication and blessing of the Margaret “Peggy” Kelly Deputy ’64 Parlor (PK Parlor), formally known as the Formal Parlor. The Alumni Board of Directors hosted the reception that followed. Deputy served on the Alumni Board from 2013 – 2019. PK’s husband Tom Deputy and their son Tad attended the ceremony. The gathered crowd moved across the hall for the renaming of the Sullivan Parlor to The 1840 in honor of the generosity of the Class of 1964 and their contributions to the College.

Watch a video from the night’s festivities:

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Sponsors of the event included: