SAN ANTONIO — Texas A&M University-San Antonio continued its cherished tradition of A&M Zoo Ring Day, celebrating the achievements of students receiving their University rings. More than 200 student ring boxes were placed inside San Antonio Zoo’s jaguar enclosure, watched over by B'alam, one of the zoo’s most beloved residents.
University leadership and students, including President Salvador Hector Ochoa, gathered at the event to honor the students’ accomplishments. This unique ceremony, launched in fall 2022 as part of A&M-San Antonio’s partnership with San Antonio Zoo, brings together tradition, education, and community engagement.
A&M-San Antonio’s Zoo Ring Day stems from the University’s on-campus Ring Day, where students, surrounded by family and friends, ceremoniously receive their rings. Before this moment, the rings are placed inside a handcrafted chest made by South San Antonio High School’s Practicum of Construction Management students, symbolizing A&M-San Antonio’s enduring relationship with South Bexar County schools and families. The chest is then placed inside the jaguar habitat, where B’alam blesses and guards the rings. After B’alam looks over the rings, they are taken to the Dome, which holds the Spirit of the Jaguar that will be sealed in each ring as the sun rises.
"We are so proud to partner with Texas A&M University-San Antonio in celebrating the achievements of these remarkable students, who are our future leaders and conservationists. At San Antonio Zoo, education and conservation are at the heart of everything we do, and this partnership through the majestic presence of B'alam the Jaguar beautifully underscores our shared vision. Together, we illuminate a success story that spans from the wild to the workforce, where the jaguar not only symbolizes a thriving future for wildlife but also embodies the spirit and potential of A&M-San Antonio students as they embark on their professional journey," said Hope Roth, San Antonio Zoo's vice president of marketing.
“The University Ring represents the hard work and dedication of our students, and the Zoo Ring Day tradition adds a special element of pride and community spirit to this milestone,” said President Ochoa. “It’s an honor to celebrate our students in such a meaningful way.”
As part of the ceremony, the University Ring Chest was prominently displayed in B’alam’s habitat, located within San Antonio Zoo’s Neotropica area, which is under the Pantera Walk, and is proudly sponsored by A&M-San Antonio.