The Arkansas Alumni Association is pleased to announce the Class of 2017 can join the Official Class Ring Tradition and can order their rings during the Official Ring Week, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 4-6 at the Arkansas Union.

If rings are ordered at Ring Week or Graduate Salute, students are invited to attend the Official Ring Ceremony on Dec. 1, 2016.

If students cannot attend the ceremony, they will have the option to pick their rings up or have them shipped to the address on their order form. Students are advised to check their email following ring week for more information. Registration will be available after Ring Week.

The Official Ring was developed as the one and only ring that symbolizes the goals achieved by University of Arkansas graduates and visually represents the common bond of all Arkansas alumni. The official ring tradition began in 2002. A committee of students, alumni, faculty and administrators joined together for the common goal of developing this new tradition. This dedicated group devoted more than a year to forming the principles of the tradition and designing the ring. After careful consideration, Jostens was selected to create the ring from the committee's design and to produce the ring for the university. The official ring conveys the University of Arkansas journey from the beginning to the end and beyond.

The north tower of Old Main serves as the central point of the ring bezel and stands as our "Beacon of Hope," as sung in the "Alma Mater." As in life, "The University of Arkansas" surrounds Old Main and the date of 1871 is a reminder of the founding of the university.

The academic side of the ring combines the rich and sometimes subtle history of the university with the new history each graduate makes. Worn closest to the heart of our graduates, it represents the academic prowess of the university.