From the Nominator

One way that COVID-19 affected our Clemson student body was the cancellation of our beloved Spring Ring Ceremony. Purchasing your ring and attending the ceremony is not only a popular tradition, but a major milestone in the journey of a Clemson student. With the cancellation of this event, we were left with the task of safely and securely distributing more than 1,600 Clemson rings to students who had mostly moved back home. But we didn't want to just simply ship them their ring. We instead wanted to provide something celebratory to lift their hearts and minds in this unprecedented time. The Clemson Alumni Ring Box was a way to package their ring surrounded in Clemson Spirit. It included familiar graphics that were used to promote the cancelled Spring Ring Ceremony, a written note from the Clemson Alumni Center Executive Director, a link to the Clemson Ring Tradition video used in the ceremony, as well as an audio recording of our Alma Mater with a special message from our university president that would automatically play once the box lid was opened. Together, we believe this unique package provided the students with more than just their ring, it provided them with a positive reminder of their Clemson home.

From the Judges

Almost every entry this year involved a gift box of some sort, but Clemson’s stood apart from the pack for a few reasons. We appreciated the effort Clemson made to take a traditionally in-person event (the class ring ceremony) and make it meaningful as a virtual event. They did this by focusing on the gift box for the ring. The engraved wooden box was made from trees felled on campus, which gets high marks for smart use of resources. When you open the shipping box, the Clemson alma mater plays, which helps solidify the recipient’s connection to the university, is very appropriate for the target audience, and is a successful way to help people feel like they are still part of this meaningful ceremony—even if they’re standing in their kitchens instead of on campus.