History of the Cobber Ring

"It eventually became an important symbol and a ready means of recognition for family members worldwide." -Dr. Carroll L. Engelhardt, Professor of History, Concordia College, on the Cobber Class Rings

They have become an enduring tradition, a symbol that signifies so much of what Concordia has come to represent. They can be seen donning the fingers of alumni throughout the world. Likewise, they have provided a common bond through which strangers have sparked conversations and established new friendships. They are the gold and ruby rings that have endured as a tradition of the college for over 90 years and become permanent attachments to lives of countless Concordia alumni. As Gennet Awalom '59 stated, "I still have my Cobber ring on in its original size. I may not be able to take it off easily, but it sits comfortably. I don't believe I had removed it once in 35 years. And what excellent quality, it has not changed at all!"

Dating back to 1918, the gold band and ruby colored stone, containing a gold "C" and wearer's class year, marked an immediate effort by the classes of those years to establish Concordia as a competitive college. During the early years of Concordia, which was founded in 1891, the school functioned primarily as a high school. However, through strenuous efforts the school moved rigorously towards becoming a complete college.

Early on, each class determined the design of their class rings. However, students early in the autumn of 1919 decided that Concordia's ring should have a standard design. In February, 1920, Concordia alumnus Oscar Martinson '09, a Moorhead, MN jeweler, designed and presented the college with the gold and ruby ring, which remains the standard to this date.

Today the Concordia ring has become, as Cyndi Bauerly '93 put it, "a rite of passage, a symbol of reaching junior status, of being a full fledged member of the Concordia family." Current rings are supplied by Jostens and they have estimated in the past that over fifty percent of each class orders rings every year.

Furthermore, the Concordia rings have become the subject of numerous stories filling the pages of Concordia's Alumni News publication. In one example, Ione (Hettum) Greene '46, wrote about a trip to the Galapagos Islands. While rock climbing, she met up with another tourist and the two recognized the familiar gold and ruby ring that each person was wearing. The two strangers stopped to share a friendly conversation.

In another example of the ring providing a recognizable symbol bonding people, Joan (Knutson) and Lyle Rich '54 wrote about their experiences as volunteers at Green Lake Bible Camp. "One of our responsibilities was to counsel and comfort those who get homesick." On the first night, a young homesick girl came to them in tears, ready to return home. After visiting for a half hour, she noticed the couples' Concordia rings, and recognized them like the rings her grandparents wore. She immediately stopped crying and began to ask about Concordia and what her grandparents were like when they were young.

A more recent story in regards to the Concordia ring came from Kristi Wagnild '79, regarding her mother's ring. Her mother was a member of the class of 1945, and the ring belonging to that class are among the few to differ from the standard recognizable design. As a symbol of the war years, the traditional ruby stone was replaced by a black stone. To this date, both mother and daughter wear their Concordia rings proudly.

To those who wear the Concordia ring, it is a symbol that has been cherished by generations of Cobbers. It is a tradition that dates back over 90 years, and has become a symbol of the college that is recognized worldwide. It is a symbol that is worn with pride by the members of the Concordia family, and has a rich history of assisting in the chance meetings of many family members. Concordia is a college that firmly upholds its traditions with great pride and dignity, and there are few places where these values are better displayed than in its own Concordia rings.

If anyone has a story about their Cobber ring that they would like to share, feel free to send them in. They can be sent to (alumni@cord.edu).