nostalgia Archives

Three generations of UGA alumni celebrate their bond with class rings

June 5, 2023/by Lindsay Tuck Morris

UGA class rings are a wearable memento celebrating the enduring bond between the University of Georgia and its alumni. Alumni far and wide wear their rings as reminders of their memories and accomplishments at UGA and to identify themselves as lifelong Bulldogs.

For Class of 2023 graduate Hannah Skinner (AB ’23, AB ’23), wearing her class ring holds a special significance beyond her connection to UGA. Her ring celebrates not only her accomplishments at the university, but also honors the bond she shares with her father and grandfather.

Hannah is a third-generation Bulldog. Her father Geoffrey Skinner (AB ’93) and grandfather Kerry Skinner (BSA ’68, MS ’69) both attended UGA. When she put on her class ring for the first time at the Ring Ceremony this April, her father and grandfather were alongside her–wearing their own rings, of course.

Hannah was happy to have her father and grandfather there to celebrate her as she joined them in participating in the university’s tradition of wearing a class ring.

“It was a special day to sit there and commemorate,” she said.

After three generations, Geoffrey Skinner said he sees UGA as part of their family’s legacy and thinks that their tradition of wearing class rings celebrates their ties to the university and one another.

“UGA is home and the ring kind of represents that,” Geoffrey said.

History of the ring

The first official UGA “Senior-Alumna” ring was created in 1923 and redesigned in 2005 in a collaborative effort between students, administrators and alumni. The redesign, created in partnership with Balfour, preserved many of the visual elements of the original ring, including the university’s iconic Arch.

Class rings can be purchased by students with 60 or more credit hours and alumni of the university at any time. The rings are presented to their wearers at the annual Ring Ceremony held each April, and friends and family are invited to attend and celebrate with students and alumni as they put their rings on for the first time.

Make it your own

Each ring is unique to its owner and can be customized with different metals, optional designs to indicate one’s major and a custom engraved message on the inside. Hannah’s father chose the specifications of her ring as a gift to her and had the inside of the ring engraved with her name and sorority letters.

“Every single time I look down at it, it’s a reminder of the amazing four years that I had at UGA,” she said.

No matter the ring’s style or when it was purchased, a class ring’s significance to its wearer is more than mere jewelry. It connects them with their university family and allows them to bring a piece of UGA with them wherever they may go–reminding each alumnus that they Never Bark Alone.

Join fellow alumni in this century-old tradition and consider purchasing a ring today!

Buy a class ring

Honor your alma mater with a UGA Ring

May 4, 2022/by Alyssa Craig

As the spring semester comes to an end, many seniors are preparing to graduate and begin a new phase of life. As students transition to alumni, seniors can take part in a time-honored tradition: the UGA Ring.

UGA Rings serve as a reminder of one’s achievements and memories from their time at the university. They represent the bond between students and their alma mater, allowing them to bring a piece of UGA with them wherever they may go.

While being worn as a student, the Arch on the ring should face toward the wearer. Once a student graduates, the ring should be turned around so the Arch faces away. As students make that turn, it signifies they are graduates of the University of Georgia.

Nash Davis (BBA ’19), a Terry College of Business alumnus and former Student Alumni Council president, bought a ring during his junior year in 2018. Nash wanted to have a UGA Ring to wear to the various events held by the Alumni Association during his final year at UGA. Even after graduating, Nash wears his ring often, showing it off when he returns to Athens or attends university events. He recommends that everyone consider purchasing a UGA Ring.

“It is an investment for sure, but it is something that you will always be glad you have and are able to wear,” Nash said.

Just by seeing his ring, Nash remembers the hard work he put into his college career and feels a sense of pride. His ring also serves as a great conversation starter with fellow alumni as well as friends within his professional career.

“The first time that an alum recognized my signet ring, it paid for itself. The ability to build those relationships and relate to all sorts of people over a symbol like this is awesome.”

Though Nash bought his UGA Ring as an undergraduate, it’s never too late to get one. Purchasing a ring is open to juniors and seniors with 60+ credit hours as well as alumni. Juniors and seniors who purchase a ring before the end of Ring Week each February can expect to receive their rings in April prior to Commencement. All other orders are filled after Commencement.

There is a wealth of options to customize your UGA Ring. You can choose the metal, engrave a message on the inside of the band, and select the side design to display your degree.

However you choose to customize your UGA Ring, this tradition is more than an accessory. The ring and the Arch are reminders that tradition never graduates.

Order Your UGA Ring

Football and cookies and crayons, oh my!

December 3, 2021/by William O'Bannon

What’s better than cheering on our Georgia Bulldogs? Cheering on our Dawgs while enjoying a UGA-themed cookie coloring sheet!

December 4 is National Cookie Day, and these coloring sheets are perfect for celebrating the holiday while cheering on your favorite team in the country. Feel free to get creative, but don’t get too distracted … wouldn’t want you to miss all the action.

When you’ve finished coloring your page, be sure to post a photo on social using #AlwaysADawg and tag our account so we can share with the rest of the UGA Alumni family!

Need some inspiration? Check out these fancy cookies that UGA alumna Baylee Marsh (BA ‘20) decorated for gamedays in Athens.

Seasons change – so should your backgrounds

November 9, 2021/by Gabby Brickner

You asked, and we answered, Bulldogs!

We’ve curated a festive collection of virtual backgrounds for all your fall and winter needs—all UGA-related, of course. From bright, crunchy leaves scattered across campus sidewalks to chilly nights spent in Sanford Stadium, these backgrounds will have you feeling cozy and ready for your next virtual meeting!

So, as the world finds new ways to spruce up online meetings, don’t be afraid to wear your Bulldog pride on your sleeve – or on your screen – this holiday season!

Not a Zoom expert? We’ve got you covered

If your device is compatible with Zoom backgrounds, follow these steps to give your meetings a festive change.

Select your favorite background image(s) and save them to your desktop to make it easier to find during this process.
In Zoom, click your profile image in the top right corner, then click Settings. *The icon for Settings is gray and looks like a gear.
On the menu to the left, click Background & Filters. *The icon is turquoise and looks like a person on a computer monitor.
Click the + icon on the right side of the window. Select “Add Image,” and a window will pop up allowing you to upload a photo from your computer. Navigate to the one(s) you’ve chosen, click on it, and it will appear alongside the other virtual background images in Zoom as an option for you to choose from. *Once you have saved the image, you can delete it from your desktop, since it is now stored in Zoom.
If your background looks like it’s backward, be sure to uncheck the box next to “Mirror my video” under the virtual background images in Zoom.

Want a year-round gallery to choose from?

These UGA backgrounds offer a timeless selection for any Georgia fan!

Through the Ages with “The Heart of the Bulldog Spirit”

November 4, 2021/by Caroline Odom

Saturdays in Athens wouldn’t be the same without the sounds of the University of Georgia’s Redcoat Marching Band. Using the interactive timeline below, march through the ages to learn about the origins, the growth and the many traditions of “the heart of the Bulldog spirit.”

Dawgs through the Decades: UGA in the 1990s

September 20, 2021/by Shannon Moran

As the birthplace of higher education, UGA is guided by a respect for history and tradition. We’re taking a trip down nostalgia lane to learn about college life through the decades. So dust off your flannels and grunge band T-shirts as we go back to the 1990s.

The 1990s were defined by pop culture and innovative technology. It was a spirited decade in America and that was no different on UGA’s campus. The university hosted three Olympic competitions in 1996, putting Athens on the map as an internationally recognized hub for sports, culture and entertainment. During this decade, our historic campus also expanded with new buildings like the Ramsey Student Center for Physical Activities and the Georgia Museum of Art.

Students in the 1990s were committed to creating better communities around the world and empowering the next breed of Bulldogs to continue that tradition. They embodied the world-class spirit of UGA, promoting diversity and inclusion year-round, worldwide and lifelong. UGA’s distinguished alumni from this decade include retired NFL player Terrell Davis (BSFCS ’95), Congolese ambassador Dr. Faida Mitifu (PHD ’94), sports journalist and NYT best-selling author Mark Schlabach (ABJ ’96), Pulitzer Prize winner Brad Schrade (AB ’92, MA ’95). Bulldogs from the ’90s continue to inspire pride among alumni, students and fans.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Campus Highlights

Here are some important moments in UGA’s history in the 1990s:

1990

The College of Home Economics became the College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Institute for African American Studies was established

1991

College of Agriculture became the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
School of Forest Resources became the Daniel B. Warnell School of Forest Resources
College of Business Administration became the C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry College of Business

1993

Telvis Rich (BSW ’94, MSW ’95) became the first Black student to serve as president of the Student Government Association

1994

School of Ecology established within the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences; environmental literacy requirement instituted for all undergraduates
UGA was chosen as site for Olympic soccer and volleyball during the 1996 Olympic games

1995

The Bernard B. and Eugenia A. Ramsey Student Physical Activities Center opened
School of Music Building and Performing Arts Center established

1996

UGA hosted three competitions during the Centennial Olympic Games
The Georgia Museum of Art opened a new building on East Campus as part of the Performing and Visual Arts Complex, which includes the School of Music, the Performing Arts Center and the Lamar Dodd School of Art

1997

The late Bernard B. Ramsey left the university its largest single gift (at the time), $18.8 million

1998

UGA converted from quarter terms to semester terms
UGA Professor Edward J. Larson won a Pulitzer Price for History

1999

University campus dedicated as an Arboretum
UGA at Oxford opened, making it the first university-owned residential facility abroad
Hilton Young (BSED ’79) became the first Black president of UGA’s National Alumni Association (now the UGA Alumni Association)
Mark Anthony Thomas (BBA ’01) became the first Black editor-in-chief of The Red & Black

UGA’s campus in 1999. Notice any differences from today?

Classic City Entertainment

Following the creative ascent of bands like R.E.M and the B-52s in the ’80s, Athens was established as a cultural epicenter for music. Students flocked to venues and bars like the Flying Buffalo, Rockfish Palace, T.K. Harty’s Saloon, The Odyssey, Georgia Bar and Boneshakers.

The Uptown Lounge, a popular music club, became the Atomic Music Hall in the mid-’90s. Atomic gained recognition as one of the most vital underground rock clubs during the 1990s. It hosted punk-rock bands like Trash Fest, Harvey Milk, Jucifer, Trinket, Space Cookie and Buzz Hungry. The club also attracted national acts such as Hole, the Oblivions and Drivin’ N Cryin’.

Other popular acts during the ’90s included Of Montreal and Drive-By Truckers. The Elephant 6 Collective, a group of like-minded indie bands, gained nationwide exposure in the mid-1990s with the rise of Neutral Milk Hotel, Elf Power and Olivia Tremor Control.

In 1998, a week after the release of their first live album, Light Fuse, Get Away, Widespread Panic closed the streets of Athens to put on a free album release party for 100,000 fans. The live concert broke Metallica’s record for the largest record release party.

1 2 3 4 5

Music Essentials

The 1990s were filled with a range of pop, rap and alternative artists. Girl groups and boy bands like Destiny’s Child, Backstreet Boys, Boyz II Men, TLC and the Spice Girls took center stage. Meanwhile, solo artists like Mariah Carey, Tupac Shakur, Alanis Morrissette, Whitney Houston and Madonna pushed the boundaries of pop culture with their eccentric styles and cutting edge performances. Reminisce on the ’90s with this UGA Alumni throwback playlist!

Tune into the 1990s

Fashion Trends

Fashion returned to minimalism in the 1990s, sharply contrasting the bold and elaborate styles of the ’80s. Wardrobe staples included cardigans, long, fitted skirts, straight-legged pants, cropped T-shirts and overalls—all in neutral tones. During the early to mid-1990s, grunge and alternative bands like Nirvana influenced an “anti-fashion” movement which consisted of oversized clothing, flannel shirts, distressed jeans, Doc Martens and bucket hats. Students on campus could be seen wearing a combination of these styles, but most opted for a UGA T-shirt with high tops or white, chunky sneakers.

1 2 3 4 5 6

TV Shows

The 90’s gave birth to television shows and sitcoms, entertaining sporting events, blockbuster movies, and video games. Students could be found huddled around bulky, flat-screen TVs watching the latest music videos on MTV. Here are some TV shows that further revolutionized the decade:

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Family Matters
Friends
Seinfeld
Law & Order
Sister, Sister
The X-Files
Full House
Martin

UGA fosters lifelong relationships with alumni, because we are committed to the growth, success and connection of the Bulldog nation. Whether you passed through the Arch in the 1990s or just caught a game inside Sanford Stadium, you’re a Georgia Bulldog and you will Never Bark Alone.

Don’t forget to check out the 1970s and 1980s posts in this series!

*Shannon Moran, writing/communications intern for UGA’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations, is researching and writing this special blog series.

Dawgs through the Decades: UGA in the 1980s

August 12, 2021/by Shannon Moran

As the birthplace of higher education in America, UGA is guided by a respect for history and tradition while keeping a firm eye on the future. We’re taking a trip down nostalgia lane this fall to learn about college life through the decades. So put on your acid wash jeans and roll up those blazer sleeves … it’s time to head back to the 1980s.

The 1980s were defined by pop culture, consumerism and the end of the Cold War. It was a spirited decade in America and that was no different on the UGA campus. Long-standing traditions found their humble beginnings during these years. Our historic campus also expanded with newly established buildings and organizations.

Students in the 1980s were hopeful and enthusiastic about the opportunity to improve the future. They embodied the spirit of UGA, striving to create better communities around the world and empower the next breed of Bulldogs to continue that tradition. Among UGA’s distinguished alumni from this decade, there are professional athletes, writers, educators, business leaders and government officials. Bulldogs from the ’80s demonstrate the incredible value of a degree from UGA.