Exciting new addition: Aggie ring statue announced for Pelican Island
By Jackson Petroll, '22
|Photo: Alinoe Roussie, Nautilus Staff
Michael Fossum poses with student and family during ring day
Andres Barboza, President of Maroon Delegates, and Deidra Dittmar, Vice President of Maroon Delegates, unveil plans to construct a ring statue on Texas A&M University at Galveston campus this past Ring Day.
Ring Day is a memorable day for Aggies that celebrates the milestone of successfully completing 90 credit hours at Texas A&M University.
The famous Aggie ring statue erected in Haynes Ring Plaza in College Station was built in 2009. The statue aims to further honor Ring Day and has become a tradition among students who pose next to it in order to show off their new piece of Aggie gold.
TAMUG, despite also celebrating Ring Day, has not had the privilege of possessing a ring statue unlike its College Station counterpart.
Barboza and Dittmar are the current driving force behind the Galveston ring statue.
"There was demand for a ring statue in the past so we thought ‘why can't we have this in Galveston?' " explained Dittmar.
Colonel Michael Fossum, Chief Operating Officer at Texas A&M University at Galveston and Vice President of Texas A&M University, expressed a want for more Aggie symbols around campus and has played an integral role in the approvement process.
The ring statue is planned to be built in the courtyard behind the Aggie Special Events Center (ASEC), in the bricked ring.
"We looked at different double ring designs, because we don't want the same design and the mold wasn't available," elaborated Barboza. The statue will be constructed of two rings, one female and one male ring together. The rings will have the dates of the first female and male TAMUG student on the inside of each ring respectively.
Funding for the ring is estimated to be $65,000. Barboza and Dittmar hope to complete funding for the ring in the next year.
"The last ring in College Station was a gift from an Aggie student and there is a similar idea that this statue is an all class gift idea. The idea that all students can fund it," claims Dittmar.
Many students attending Ring Day were excited to hear about the upcoming ring statue. "Tradition is a big part of being an Aggie and countless people have taken a photo next to the ring statue in College Station; now they will be able to carry on the tradition here on the island," said Robyn Battles, a senior Maritime Public Policy and Communication major.
If you are interested in funding the project, please see the contact information below. To donate, please mail checks to the following address:
P.O. Box 1675
Galveston, Texas 77553-1675
Checks payable to:
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Memo Line:
Aggie Rings Statue
