Imagine this: it’s almost graduation and you want to soak in every Maryland moment you can before you cross the stage. One more scoop from the Maryland Dairy, one more time cheering the Victory Song and one last stroll on McKeldin as a student. How can you hold onto that feeling when you are miles away from campus? For many alums, a University of Maryland class ring is a physical reminder of their Terp pride. Read on to hear more from six recent Spirit of Maryland winners who proudly wear their class ring as alums.

As a student, Kassidy Jacobs ’23 dedicated her time at Maryland to advocating for first-generation and low-income students through the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Dean's Student Advisory Council. One of her favorite moments was receiving an email from a student she advised who had received full financial aid and committed to Maryland.

Now, Jacobs has finished her first year at Yale Law School and interns at the Maryland Attorney General. “I hope that my story can show others the power of education,” says Jacobs.

Her class ring is a testament to how that story started at Maryland. “This ring promotes memories for me and allows me to reflect positively on my time at UMD,” she says.

One of Michael O’Neill’s favorite Maryland memories came during the 2024 football season home opener, when he and fellow Clark Scholars were invited to join President Darryll J. Pines in the President's Suite.

O’Neill ’26 is currently interning at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, where he supports the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex, the largest wind tunnel in the world, while preparing to start graduate-level classes at UMD.

Wherever life takes him, his Class Ring is a reminder that he is part of something bigger–the Terp community.

“It often becomes a conversation starter when people notice it,” says O’Neill. “I’ll be walking down the street or talking with someone at work, they see the ring, and I find out they’re a Terp too. Those moments have made the community feel a lot more real and far-reaching than I originally realized, and they’ve shown me how strong the Maryland network is.”

After graduation, Mason Minus ’25 spent nine months in California exploring his interests in entertainment law and acting before returning home to begin the next chapter at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law this fall. "When I put on my UMD class ring, I reflect on the amazing support of the school faculty, administration and my fellow students," he says. "I know I will always have the Maryland family to lean on."

Minus intends to stay connected to that Terp family to continue finding solutions to society’s most pressing challenges, especially as a Spirit of Maryland recipient. “As members of the Terp community, we carry a responsibility to support, uplift and invest in one another,” he says. “The class ring recognizes your commitment to your peers, mentors and those who came before you.”

Jahnavi Kirkire '25 says her four years on campus were “some of the most rewarding times” of her life. That’s why her class ring is an adornment that she never leaves home without.

“It is truly a part of me now,” says Kirkire. “My class ring has been a phenomenal recognition of my continued status as a Terp.”

Since graduating with her undergraduate degree, she’s moved to Charlottesville for law school and is now a rising 2L at the University of Virginia.

“I’m forever a Terp, and the ring only helps prove it,” she says.

For Ashley Morales ’26, attending this university was once just a dream, and one shared by her family. “It was my parent's dream for me to continue my education,” she says. “This ring is a small token of that dream come true.”

The moments Morales cherishes most from her time at UMD may be small ones––her time spent as part of the Mighty Sound of Maryland, Testudo nose-rubs for good luck and afternoons on McKeldin with friends––but they culminated in a large achievement.

Upon turning her tassel, Morales began working towards a Masters in Education at Maryland with a focus in TESOL.

“I have always dreamed of being a teacher and am so excited to get this chapter started,” she says.

Dan Alpert '21 grew up knowing that he’d be a Terp one day.

“I attended Maryland football games with my family, went to basketball games with friends, and had a Testudo blanket on my bed. My parents and brother are proud Maryland alums,” he says.

As an undergraduate, Alpert was involved in a variety of clubs, organizations and communities that “made such a large university feel smaller.”

Alpert worked as a legislative aide for Delegate Linda Foley in the Maryland General Assembly before moving to Budapest, Hungary to aid in Ukrainian refugee support. He’s now back in Maryland and founded Friends of JCC Budapest to support Jewish life in Hungary.

“The memories behind [my class ring] and of my time at UMD are what are truly valuable,” he says. “Those meaningful four years are what keep me coming back to the university to support its endeavors and reconnect with friends and mentors.”

The official University of Maryland class ring is a symbol of pride that reminds you of your legacy and helps build connections among other Terps. We are proud to partner with Balfour to offer Terp alums a selection of custom ring designs specific to the UMD experience. Learn more about class rings.