Lauren Knight
  • Sociology and Criminal Justice
  • Class of 2017
  • Spartanburg, SC

Spartanburg Resident Honored at Newberry College Ring Ceremony

2017 Apr 12

Lauren Knight of Spartanburg, SC, was one of seven students honored at the Newberry College Spring 2017 Ring Ceremony held on Feb. 25, in Wiles Chapel. Student participants included:

Konstantina Evlalia Ayling -- Winner of Alumni Association Class Ring Award
Alyssa Tani Germanoff
Nolan Morris Hendrix
Lauren Olivia Knight -- Winner of Alumni Association Class Ring Award
Kaneesha Jabreaha Penny
Sarah Marie Reed
Brandy Lee Shampine

Alumni Association President Mary Grate Pyos '81 and Dan Koon '81, a member of the Newberry College Board of Managers, announced Konstantina Evlalia Ayling and Lauren Olivia Knight as the winners of the Alumni Association Class Ring Award.

Students are given the opportunity to submit an essay describing their connection to Newberry College and its mission, and to describe theiir plans for sustaining that connection after graduation. Winners are selected by the Alumni Association Board of Managers and receive a $500 credit toward their class ring.

Grate-Pyos and Koon also presented class rings to each of the participants in the Ring Ceremony, with the traditional Blessing of the Rings performed by Newberry College campus pastor The Rev. Ernie Worman.

The students drew inspiration from the event speaker, The Rev. John Derrick, a 1983 graduate of Newberry College. Derrick spoke of his treasured time as a student at Newberry College and the personal significance of his own class ring.

"Your class ring symbolizes the lifelong friendships you have formed as a student and the lifelong connection you have formed with Newberry College," said Alumni Coordinator Jeff Wicker '02. "The Ring Ceremony is a special event for the Alumni Association and the Office of Alumni Relations; We're already looking forward to the Fall 2017 Ring Ceremony."

The Ring Ceremony is co-sponsored by the Newberry College Alumni Association and Herff Jones, which has been the class ring provider for Newberry College's for more than 85 years.