The tradition of class rings “can be traced as far back in time to ancient Egypt,” according to Herff Jones, the company that makes class rings for Choate. Although class rings date far back, their sales have remained consistently low. Their expensive price is an unappealing factor that sways Choate students away from buying them. Nonetheless, they have an interesting story to tell.
Class rings were integrated into military academies in the 19th century. They were given to departing students at graduation. In terms of their history at the School, class rings date back to Rosemary Hall. The first Rosemary Hall ring was created in 1909 and had the symbol of a boar imprinted using wax. The girls of Rosemary Hall held a ceremony each spring in which the seniors would present the rings to students during the spring of the fifth-form year. Then, the girls would wear the rings throughout their upcoming sixth-form year.
At The Choate School, boys initially received only class pins, replaced later by rings imprinted with the School crest. School Archivist Ms. Judy Donald RH ’66 said that the designs of Choate’s rings have changed over time; “A ring from the ’60s is much different from one today.”
Although some do not see the point in buying a class ring, there are some students who choose to do so. “I think it’s a really nice tradition to have to remember my time at Choate,” said Katherine Lima ’20. “Both of my brothers have their class rings from high school and college, so I am definitely getting one,” she said.
Class rings now have the Choate Rosemary Hall seal and the graduation year, along with other personal options. “A lot of students buy the rings for traditional purposes. Some do it for sentimental reasons. They have kind of a keepsake from high school,” said Ms. Kerry Kuhn, the Choate School Store Manager. For many, the rings serve as a reminder in later years of one’s experiences in high school and can even be passed down through generations as an heirloom.
Herff Jones representative Mr. Derek Turbacuski said that these class rings are custom made. “We hold no inventory of rings, only raw materials. Each ring is handcrafted by skilled artisans in our plant in Warwick, Rhode Island. There is a great deal of pride that goes into making each ring, adding to the uniqueness of a class ring.”
Likely due to the expensive price, many graduating seniors opt out of purchasing a ring. The class rings start at $380 but can go up to around $850. “The rings range in price depending on style, size, and metal quality,” said Mr. Turbacuski. “I plan on getting a ring, but I will most likely use Beyond the Classroom Fund because of the high price. I think the price should be lowered so that more students could afford it and feel financially comfortable purchasing it,” said Krystal McCook ’20.
Other students choose not to get a class ring simply because they don’t think they hold much meaning. Faris Alharthy ’20 said, “They are irrelevant — they don’t do anything. I would much rather just get a senior sweater than a class ring. Maybe it was a thing in the old days, but I feel like in this generation it is not as common to get one.”
For those students who do wish to buy a class ring, Ms. Kuhn can help with that. “We have order forms available at the store year-round. We can take the orders here, and then we let the representative know that we have them.”
