Tattnall County High School (TCHS) Class of 2026 held their Official Class Ring Ceremony this past Monday, August 26, 2024, and many of the juniors who had ordered their class rings this past spring were in attendance to receive their rings. The ceremony was held in the school cafetorium, which included parents and other family members as well as fellow students, to celebrate the occasion with the junors.

The event opened with comments from Smith Reeves, representative of The Roderick Group and Herff Jones, Inc., of Statesboro, Georgia, from whom the rings were or-dered.  TCHS Principal Justin Flowers welcomed the crowd gathered for the occasion and added that the event was long awaited by the juniors.

The program began with a welcome by junior Coa Corbett followed by thanks to parents from Payson Eason.  Other participants included Saige Collins on Ring Heritage; Ashlyn Ba-con, Wearing of Rings; and Jayden Butler and Geovanni Ornelas, Tradition of Unity.

The wearing of class rings originated at the United States Military Academy with the Class of 1835 as a reflection of their unity. The custom of class rings remains today as one of the most widely recognized customs in the world.

The juniors receiving class rings were then called forward by Counselor Shaquila Foreman, as Principal Flowers presented the ring to each junior on stage as the student's name was called.

After all juniors had received their rings, while gathered at the table with family members, the Class Ring Turning Tradition took place. This process involves "turning your Herff Jones class ring once towards your pinkie, and then for that special person who turns last, have them turn your ring one time the other way to lock it."

The ceremony ended with the juniors showing off their rings to other students and posing for pictures.{