Dunk, Done, Texan: Tarleton Celebrates Ring Dunk

BY HELENA KNUTSON

Podcast Host

As students walk across the stage, waiting patiently to shake President Hurley's hand and receive the class ring they have been waiting months for, they are all thinking about one thing: the party that takes place after they get their ring.

The ring ceremony takes place during Family Weekend, which is Sept. 18 - 19, and is a beloved tradition at Tarleton State University. It congratulates upper-level students for their hard work and dedication to the university through their studies.

Ring Dunk is a beloved college tradition where students chug a pitcher of beer and at the bottom sits their ring. As much as this tradition is done around the world, it holds a special place for Tarleton, as the tradition was founded at Texas A&M University, at a local bar called “The Dixie Chicken.”

Kaylee Bezio, a senior marketing major, was excited to take part in the ring dunk experience, especially knowing how big this tradition is in the Texas A&M system.

“When it comes to affiliating oneself with the Texas A&M University System, there will always be certain similarities that one can share with other schools in the system,” Bezio said. 

“However, at the same time, Tarleton has its own unique history and culture, which enabled students to adapt the tradition like Ring Dunk into something that is special about Tarleton.”

As students prepare for Ring Dunk, there is one thing they must decide first: who will be by their side as they chug an enormous pitcher of beer. 

“The fact of getting the ring is important since it reflects the efforts that you have made in order to receive a degree. Also, this activity provided me an opportunity to celebrate this moment with my friends and family in a way which will remain one of the most memorable experiences of my time at Tarleton,” Bezio said. 

Senior Sam Kazda, a senior agriculture development major, said he celebrated with his best friends and roommates. 

“Ring Dunk to me is a chance to celebrate the ring tradition itself. Graduation is an individual experience, and you are limited to how many you can bring. But Ring Dunk is an opportunity for friends and family to come and celebrate each other and Tarleton,” Kazda said.

Although this is a milestone for so many current students, the tradition sticks with them even after graduation.

Alayna Liles, a summer 2026 graduate, recalls her Ring Dunk, why it mattered so much to her as an alumna and how taking part in that tradition was more than just about the dunk.

“Looking back, Ring Dunk was important to me because it represented how far I had come,” Liles said. “Tarleton tradition made the moment feel real. It was one of those moments where I could stop and realize, ‘I actually did it.’ Now that I have graduated, I look back at Ring Dunk as one of the moments that made my time at Tarleton feel even more special.”

Liles isn't only an alumna of Tarleton State; she is also a first-generation graduate, which made her Ring Dunk not only special for her but for her family.

“Being a first-generation college student, earning my degree was something that meant a lot to me and my family,” Liles said. “There were a lot of unknowns along the way because I was figuring out college and what came next for myself. Getting my ring and participating in Ring Dunk felt like I was celebrating more than just my own accomplishment.”

Ring Dunk is a way for students to turn this academic milestone into a fun and lighthearted celebration. Tarleton students will continue to follow in this tradition that many students take part in every semester.

All participants in this article are 21+ years of age.