Put a Ring on it: The Official Islander Ring Symbolizes Achievement, Unity, and University Spirit
There’s a story behind every Islander’s ring ceremony. They are as varied as the students themselves, but one thing that unites them all is the pride of receiving this symbol of the culmination of their time at the Island University.
The Fall 2019 Islander Ring Ceremony was an unforgettable day for Leanne Mulholland ’08, ’11. Her daughter, Elizabeth Valentine ’19, a senior accounting major, was among the students receiving their coveted Islander Rings. Mulholland, however, was more than just a proud parent — she was also in line to receive a ring herself.
Eight years after earning her Master of Business Administration from the Island University, Mulholland was finally able to purchase her Official Islander Ring. As a single mother, finances were often tight during her undergraduate and graduate years. However, by 2019, Mulholland’s hard work had paid off, and she had become the Chief Operating Officer for Coastal Community and Teachers Credit Union.
Mulholland remembers the ring ceremony with vivid clarity.
“We were in different places in the ring line due to our different last names, but event organizers graciously allowed us to walk out together,” Mulholland said. “To experience this event with your child is an emotional thing, there are no words for it. I was so proud of her, and I was excited for myself. I’m proof that it’s never too late to take part in this Islander tradition.”
The Spring 2024 Islander Ring Ceremony was an especially touching moment for Matthew Sanchez ’24, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration. Sanchez had full intention of buying a ring when he learned that he would be receiving the SEAS Legacy Ring based on his time as a student worker in the Dean of Students office. The Legacy Ring comes at no cost to the students who receive it.
Sanchez was thrilled to share the news with his mother, which had come to him in the form of a congratulations letter.
“I read it out loud and she started crying,” Sanchez said. “And whenever you’re with someone you care a lot about and they start crying, it’s hard to not cry yourself.”
Three-time alumna Dr. Margaret “Peggy” Lara ’98, ’01, ’12 said she is looking forward to experiencing the joy of receiving her Islander Ring at an upcoming ceremony. Lara has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Islander Alumni Association since 2019 and was Board President from 2020 to 2022. Her role has meant that she’s helped give out hundreds of Islander Rings to deserving students but still doesn’t have one of her own.
“I kept telling myself that I was going to get one — I even went so far as to fill out the paperwork when I was about to get my master’s degree,” said Lara, who currently serves as an Instructional Teacher Advisor with Gloria Hicks Elementary School in Corpus Christi ISD.
As the first in her family to earn a doctorate, Lara said it would be especially meaningful to own an Islander Ring.
“The Islander Ring is a symbol of so many things,” Lara said. “It’s a symbol of time, sacrifice, challenges, memories, achievements, goals, and the journey. For me, that’s what having a ring will represent.”
After each Islander receives their ring, they are invited to participate in the Ring Wish tradition, where each ring recipient tosses a sand dollar into Woo Sung Lee Plaza Fountain and makes a wish.
