Mentor Ring program connects students, alumni
By: Allison Percival Contributing Writer
Issue date: 3/1/10 Section: News
It's that time of the semester for the Mentor Ring Sales Event that will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 23 and 24 in the Tracie D. Pearlman Alumni Center.
The Mentor Ring is a program designed to help connect students with successful alumni in mentor-type relationships.
The features of the ring highlight the traditions and symbols of SFA including: the lumberjack, Stephen F. Austin statue, SFA Seal, the Austin Building, axe heads, 1923, pine trees, the letter "T," which stands for Texas, the degree the student earned and the graduation date of the student.
Students who purchase a ring may decide whether or not they would like to participate in the mentor program. The program has over 200 mentors, mostly SFA alumni, who have more than one student at a time.
In order to earn the ring, a student must have at least 60 hours completed and be in good standing with SFA.
This program was launched in the fall of 2001 during Homecoming and since then has sold 3,500 rings. Last semester a record breaking 220 rings were sold.
Students must have their ring applications turned in by March 24 in order to participate in the Big Dip Ceremony. The Big Dip, started in 2003, is a ritual for the students to dip their hands in purple dye before receiving their rings as a sense of being "dipped in pride."
"We encourage students to order their rings as soon as possible so they can participate in the Big Dip Ceremony in May," Mitzi Blackburn, coordinator of alumni services, said.
Students may also apply online for rings and the mentor program at www.sfaalumni.com.
The Mentor Ring is a program designed to help connect students with successful alumni in mentor-type relationships.
The features of the ring highlight the traditions and symbols of SFA including: the lumberjack, Stephen F. Austin statue, SFA Seal, the Austin Building, axe heads, 1923, pine trees, the letter "T," which stands for Texas, the degree the student earned and the graduation date of the student.
Students who purchase a ring may decide whether or not they would like to participate in the mentor program. The program has over 200 mentors, mostly SFA alumni, who have more than one student at a time.
In order to earn the ring, a student must have at least 60 hours completed and be in good standing with SFA.
This program was launched in the fall of 2001 during Homecoming and since then has sold 3,500 rings. Last semester a record breaking 220 rings were sold.
Students must have their ring applications turned in by March 24 in order to participate in the Big Dip Ceremony. The Big Dip, started in 2003, is a ritual for the students to dip their hands in purple dye before receiving their rings as a sense of being "dipped in pride."
"We encourage students to order their rings as soon as possible so they can participate in the Big Dip Ceremony in May," Mitzi Blackburn, coordinator of alumni services, said.
Students may also apply online for rings and the mentor program at www.sfaalumni.com.
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