Ring Fever is Cobber Tradition

Oct 10, 2011

a Cobber Ring

Cobber Bling. The Power Ring. No matter what you call it, it's become a traditional rite of passage for Concordia students who have reached junior status.

Dating back nearly a century, the Cobber ring provides a common bond for alumni across the globe and has become a symbol of the values and ideals Concordia College represents.

The Cobber ring's popularity is not just legend. Concordia is second only to the U.S. Military Service academies in percentage of graduates sporting class rings. More than wearing it, Cobbers cherish it.

Check out the excitement of "ring day," recently documented in this video blog by Rachel Meier '12.

And when we put out a call on our Facebook page for favorite ring stories, the responses poured in.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Mine was given to me anonymously. To this day I do not know who purchased my ring for me. On ring day, I found a note in my mailbox that said, "You have a very special friend who would like to purchase your Cobber ring for you. Stop by the ring desk to pick out your ring." I wear my ring every day and I am always reminded of how generous others can truly be. - Shyla (Wilson) Thompson '03

We moved cross-country, away from all family and friends. We visited a new church, and were quickly approached by an older gentleman and his wife after they saw the Cobber ring I always wear. The husband showed me his ring, and our families have been friends ever since. :) What a great start to our new life! - Tiffany (Aguilar) Sower '02

When I first got my Cobber ring it had the wrong grad year on it. It said '90 instead of '09. I still wore it with pride until my new one was made. :) - Melissa Shugarman '09

I couldn't afford one while I was there but my husband always knew I wanted one. For our five-year anniversary, he got it for me and now I wear it every day. I love how it gets recognized no matter where you go. - Leah Glass Staahl '98

Couldn't decide if I should get a ring. I walked home from the bookstore to Park Region and decided to just not get it. Well, there was a message from the bookstore on my answering machine saying that I had won free books for the following semester. God provides! My books were $20 more than the ring and I still wear my ring always (even on my wedding day). - Shelly (Bergs) Lemons '03

(Mine was) a gift from my parents my senior year. At the time I was sometimes embarrassed to be a Cobber and didn't wear my ring often. A few years have passed and I couldn't be more proud to have been a Cobber who looks like my dad and sounds a little like my mom. The wisdom of a few years makes you appreciate your roots. Now I wear it daily and my ring lets others know I'm also on a firm foundation (and so does my grey hair - or so I like to think). Soli Deo Gloria.  - David Manning '88

I got my ring from my husband and kids for my 50th birthday. - Gwen Leff Degner '79

I refer to mine as my magic decoder ring. - Kellian Clink '80


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