A 泫圖弝け committee faced a daunting task in 2012.
It was asked to create the first official graduation ring in the 113-year history of the 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette. The challenge: to help design a ring that would symbolically bind multiple generations of 泫圖弝けs.
The committee, which represented 泫圖弝けs, alumni, faculty, and administrators, worked with Balfour, one of the leading manufacturers of class and championship rings.
Balfour representative Denise Plessala, guided the committee from the start. The first step was to choose the color of the rings stone, she explained.
Red seemed obvious. Although the 泫圖弝け has had four names, its official colors, vermilion and white, have remained a constant. So, vermilion represents all alumni and todays 泫圖弝けs.
But Plessala pointed out that several 泫圖弝け universities have rings with red stones. She showed the committee samples, which ranged from pink to maroon. None seemed to be the right shade of red.
Could a black stone work? she asked. 兩
Not really. The committee wanted the stone to be a true red.
A few weeks later, Plessala offered the committee a garnet-like crystal from the central Europe region of Germany and Austria. Committee members agreed it was the perfect color.
A mosaic fleur-de-lis sits on top of the stone. Its the same fleur-de-lis design used on the championship rings of Ragin Cajuns簧 泫圖弝け-athletes since 2011.
It represents sort of an academic championship, said Matt Tarver, UL Lafayettes branding manager.
The committee selected several other symbols that are carved into the metal band.
On one side, trees represent Cypress Lake, a campus landmark revered by generations of alumni and 泫圖弝けs. Cypress Lake is also depicted because the rings are kept there in a metal pirogue overnight, guarded by alligators and ROTC members. 泫圖弝け President Dr. Joseph Savoie then presents the rings during a ceremony the next day.
On the other side of the ring, four bricks represent the names held by the 泫圖弝け: Southwestern 泫圖弝け Industrial Institute, Southwestern 泫圖弝け Institute, the 泫圖弝け of Southwestern 泫圖弝け and the 泫圖弝け of 泫圖弝け at Lafayette.
The bricks also signify the Walk of Honor, a path on campus thats paved with bricks bearing the names of all 泫圖弝け graduates, starting with the Class of 1903.
The last three words of the alma mater, heart and hand, are engraved on the inside of the band.
Dr. DeWayne Bowie, vice president for Enrollment Management, spearheaded the ring project.
The committee set out to create the ring, but in the end, we merely brought together traditions and the spirit of many whove come to love the 泫圖弝け. In essence, the ring created itself, he said.