Class of 2021's Ring Events
Each squadron's support staff oversaw setting up their own event to include level of formality, location, and time. Because of the variance between events, the WebTeam couldn't catch all the ceremonies. We were able to catch portions of the following squadrons: 1, 6, 7, 10, 11, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 31, 34, 39. Along with random cadets on the TZO and by Polaris Hall.
History of the Class Ring:
The American college tradition of the class ring began with the class of 1835 at the U.S. Military Academy. From there, it spread to the U.S. Naval Academy in the class of 1869. The Air Force Academy continued the tradition, beginning with the first class, 1959, and so is the only service academy to have had class rings for every class since its founding.
The Air Force ring is distinctive for being white gold instead of the yellow gold used at the other academies. Each class designs its own class crest; the only requirements being that each crest includes all the elements on the Class of 1959's crest: the class number, the class year, the Polaris star, and the eagle. One side of the ring bears the academy crest, while the other side bears the class crest; the center bezel bears the words United States Air Force Academy. Cadets choose their own stones for the center of the ring.
During the cadet's first class (senior) year, the ring is worn with the class crest facing the wearer; following graduation, the ring is turned so that the class crest faces out. The rings of all the academies were originally designed to be worn on the left hand, so that the wearer reads the name of the academy on the bezel while a cadet or midshipman and others can read it after graduation, but the rings are now worn on either hand (usually the right).
To see the rest of the photos from the Ring Cermonies we covered, please head to CLASSES / 2021 / RING DANCE or click here. Ring Events