Saint Mary-of-the-Woods hosts 102nd annual ring day

WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The longtime tradition survives another year on campus at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

This year’s event broke the record for ring recipients with a total of 147. The rings were presented to campus, Woods Online, graduate, and Ph.D. program students.

The ceremony was held in the Harvey Auditorium in the Conservatory of Music for the first time ever.

One ring presented dates all the way back to 1948, as it originally belonged to former Saint Mary-of-the-Woods President Jeanne Knoerle. Saturday, that ring became her great-niece Lillie Gendel’s.

“I don’t wear a ton of jewelry,” she said. “This is just going to be a special piece that I am just going to be able to look down and know that she is watching over me and her spirit is carrying on.”

Gendel knows that the ring is just the beginning in following her Great-Aunt’s footsteps.

“The family tradition is really nice,” she said. I hope to be like her as a person as well.”

Nine students were awarded legacy rings and 16 students also received ring scholarships.

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