Lucero Valadez lifts up her hand after participating in the traditional Jaguar Dunk after receiving her ring during the Jaguar Ring Celebration on May 1 inside University North.

The pride that comes with being a Jaguar is getting a little extra shine this spring as Texas A&M University-Victoria hosted its Jaguar Ring Celebration to honor students who have purchased the newly designed A&M-Victoria class ring.

Christian Hardigree

"I am so proud of our students who received their A&M-Victoria class rings," said A&M-Victoria President Christian Hardigree. "Each ring reflects not only what they've accomplished, but also the promise of everything still ahead. I can't wait to see the impact they will go on to make in the years to come."

The event, hosted on May 1, saw approximately 50 students attend the celebration with their family and friends, with a complete list of 70 students who ordered their rings this semester, said Kelsey Norgard, director of alumni relations and annual giving.

Kelsey Gomez

“This is the first set of students to receive their A&M-Victoria rings,” Norgard said. “This is a time for the students to commemorate their time at the university with their friends and family.”

This year’s celebration shifts away from a traditional sit-and-listen program and toward a more interactive experience across campus, Norgard said. Students during the celebration moved through several stops, including Kay’s Grove and the Jaguar statue in front of University Commons. There, students were invited to take part in a new tradition by rubbing the Jaguar’s nose and making a wish for their future.

This year’s group holds a special place in university history, as they are the first set of students to receive the newly released A&M-Victoria ring, introduced in March. The newly updated design features the A&M-Victoria seal on top, along with a star on the side that represents both The Texas A&M System and the state of Texas.

Lucero Valadez didn’t just pick up a class ring that day; for her, it was the day she claimed a symbol of nine years of persistence, sacrifice and determination. The moment she saw it in person, the weight of the years behind her came into focus.

“I can’t believe I’m finally here,” Valadez said. “I’ve been in college going on nine years now, off and on. I became a mother, dealt with financial struggles, so all of this is euphoric.”

Valadez’s path through higher education began at Victoria College, where she worked on her basic courses. As she neared the end of her time at Victoria College, her mindset shifted. She began to push for higher grades and academic honors, spending more time with textbooks and less time doubting what she could achieve.

After becoming a mother, Valadez leaned on the support of her parents. Living with them allowed her to stay focused on her coursework while managing daycare runs, bedtime routines and those late-night study sessions that come with online submissions and looming deadlines, she said. Now, she is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in human resources, with a projected graduation date of December.

The Ring Celebration brought that entire journey into a single moment. For her, the ring represents more than just a step toward graduation, it stands for every semester she refused to give up, every class she finished while her daughter slept in the next room and every decision to keep pressing forward despite all the obstacles.

“Once I had my daughter, everything changed,” Valadez said. “I want to show her that if you want it, you’ve got to work for it, and that anything is possible as long as you continue to push.”