Ring Ceremony

The ring ceremony has its origins in a bridge disaster. The Quebec Bridge crosses the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada. With a total length of 1000m and a main span of 550m it is for nearly 100 years the world’s longest cantilever steel truss bridge.

On August 29, 1907, when the bridge was almost completed after 4 years of work, the bridge collapsed, killing 75 workers. They found design errors in calculating the self-weight of the bridge. Redesign and reconstruction began the following year. In 1916 when the bridge was almost completed after 9 years of work, the bridge’s central span collapsed during the final lifting operation, killing 13 workers. Finally, in 1919 the bridge that operates today was completed.

Following the Quebec bridge disasters, members of the Engineering Institute of Canada believed that a standard of ethics and responsibility was needed for engineers. At their request, British author Rudyard Kipling in 1922 created the “Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer.” Kipling had much depth of feeling for engineers– the builders of things intended to benefit mankind.

The words of the ritual are a call to professional integrity and responsibility, part of which goes as follows: “I, in the presence of these my betters and my equals in my Calling, bind myself upon my Honor and Cold Iron, that, to the best of my knowledge and power, I will not henceforward suffer or pass, or be privy to the passing of, Bad Workmanship or Faulty Material in aught that concerns my works before mankind as an Engineer, or in my dealings with my own Soul before my Maker.

“My Time I will not refuse; my Thought I will not grudge; my Care I will not deny toward the honor, use, stability and perfection of any works to which I may be called to set my hand.” “For my assured failures and derelictions, I ask pardon beforehand of my betters and my equals in my Calling here assembled; praying that in the hour of my temptations, weakness, and weariness, the memory of this my Obligation and of the company before whom it was entered into, may return to me to aid, comfort, and restrain. Upon Honor and Cold Iron, God helping me, by these things I purpose to abide.”

In 1970 the “Order of the Ring” ceremony was started in the United States with a stainless steel ring. At the Jacobs School, our students decided to create their own ring ceremony in 2006. I ask you to accept and interpret, most seriously and with pride, the meaning and purpose of the ceremony to which you are about to subscribe: to uphold the standards and dignity of the engineering profession.

Graduating engineering students planning to attend Ring Ceremony should click on the link below to purchase a ticket:

Registration for Ring Ceremony CLOSED 5/15/26

The registration fee of $35 includes:

• Entrance to Ring Ceremony
• Ring.*
• Oath

Note: Engineering Ring will be picked up during the check-in process for the in-person event.

*The Engineering Ring is a stainless steel silver band and it is not the Class Ring.

PLEASE NOTE: Engineering Rings will not be processed until after June 1, 2026. Purchases made during Finals Week are not guaranteed to be processed in Finals Week. 

Shipping is available. All purchasing online only - students will be notified via email once their item is ready for pick up or has been shipped. 

Program:

• Opening Remarks by Albert ("Al") P. Pisano, Dean of the Jacobs School of Engineering
• Department Awards for Student Excellence
• Keynote Alumni Address
• Distinguished Student Speaker
• History of the Order of the Ring
• Recitation of the Oath
• Presentation of the Rings
• Recognition of All Registered Participants
• Closing Remarks by Dean Pisano

Graduating Student Attire:

• Formal/business attire highly encouraged. You do not need to wear your cap and gown for this event but you are more than welcome to wear your stoles and honor cords.

Graduating Student Check-In and Arrival

• Graduating student check-in is 5PM - 6:30PM outside the LionTree Arena.
• What to bring:
  • Student ID or Government Issued ID
  • Printed Ring Ceremony Ticket issued by Show Imaging.
• At check-in, you will pick up your ring and carry it with you throughout the ceremony (and life!).
• Ensure you arrive within the check-in window; late arrivals may not be allowed to participate. The ceremony will promptly start at 7:00PM. 

Parking

• TBD

APPLICATIONS for 2026 are CLOSED. 

Are you interested in being the distinguished student speaker for Ring Ceremony 2026? The allotted time for the speech is 5 minutes. We will then review applications and invite candidates to present their proposed speech in person, before selecting the student speaker.

• I have a final during the Ring Ceremony.  Can I still participate?

  • We are unable to change the event day and time. In addition, ensure you show up on time as we cannot accommodate late arrivals. Please talk to your professors or departments should you experience a conflict and we encourage you to participate in a campus wide commencement that is held over the weekend.

• Do I have to attend the Ring Ceremony to get the engineering ring?

  • No! You can get the ring by itself, sales will go in mid May. 

• Will the event be streamed?

  • Yes! The event will be live streamed on this webpage!

• I am a graduate student (MS, PhD), can I participate in Ring Ceremony or purchase a ring?

  • Unfortunately, graduate students are not eligible to register for Ring Ceremony. They are also not able to purchase the engineering ring. 

  • This event is for undergraduate engineering students only, since it provides an opportunity for students who are graduating with their engineering degree for the first time to recite the graduation oath and express their commitment to upholding standards of ethics, integrity, and quality as practicing engineers and as graduates of the Jacobs School of Engineering.

  • Please visit UCSD's Commencement webpage for a schedule graduate ceremonies.

• How do I figure out my Ring Size?

  • The IDEA Engineering Student Center has a ring sizer. You may come to the office to use the ring sizer.

  • Alternative: You may go to a local jeweler and obtain your ring size there. If you are unable to visit a jewelry store refer to this tutorial on how to measure your ring size (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjB_r3-AVo0) 

  • Note that this ring is traditionally worn on the little finger of your dominant hand.

• When do I get my Ring?​​​​​​

  • If you have ordered the Ring as part of the Ring Ceremony Package, you will receive the ring at the event. If you are ordering your ring separately as you do not intend to participate in the Ring Ceremony, you will be emailed information on ring pick up or delivery.​​​​​​

• What if I need to change my ring size and have already submitted my registration form?​​​​

  • Ring exchanges will be available during your Ring Ceremony check-in; please arrive early to have time to change your ring size as there will be a line.

  • You will also be able to drop by the IDEA Center AFTER the Ring Ceremony event. Open hours TBD.​​​​​​

• What if I forgot to claim guest tickets, or only claimed 1 but need 3?​​​​​​

  • Please email idea@ucsd.edu for instructions.​​​​​​

• I registered for Ring Ceremony and can no longer attend. Can I receive a refund?

  • Refunds are TBD

• I purchased a stole or engineering ring. Can I receive a refund?

  • For stole refunds, contact the bookstore.

  • Ring refunds are TBD.​​​​​​

• Is there a dress code?

  • Yes! Formal/business attire highly encouraged. You do not need to wear your cap and gown for this event but you are more than welcome to wear your stoles and honor cords.

• Can I attend my college commencement and Ring Ceremony?

  • Yes! You may choose to go to one or both! You do have to register for each separately. For you college commencement ceremony registration, please visit http://commencement.ucsd.edu/

• Is the Ring Ceremony a formal UC San Diego commencement ceremony?

  • No. We encourage you to attend your College Commencement and the UCSD All Campus Commencement. Ring Ceremony space is limited to those who only have a ticket.

Check out our YouTube Channel to view past Ring Ceremony recordings!

The Ring Ceremony is not an official commencement, but rather a celebration provided by the Jacobs School of Engineering for it's undergraduates.

Students can register for an official commencement ceremony for free at commencement.ucsd.edu. The college ceremonies will recognize students individually and they will walk the stage, and all guests are welcome to attend. There is also the All Campus Commencement. The deadline for these are May 29, 2026.