VCU graduate Cindy Welton lost her class ring during a high school graduation. Eight months later she received a letter that said her ring had been found.
By Tiana Kelly
Part of junior year is marked by the availability to purchase a class ring before moving to the next grade. Students get to design their own class rings and so the cost may vary to $200.00 or more. Due to the value that is placed on a class ring, losing it may be devastating.
“I was sick over losing my ring. It made me feel so sad and empty for it to be gone,” Virginia Commonwealth University graduate Cindy Welton said.
Welton graduated from VCU in 1989 with her bachelor of science degree in psychology. She had bought a college class ring for over $200.00.
“I worked so hard in school to graduate and earn the privilege of wearing a college ring. I was a full time student working part time,” Welton said.
Welton and her daughter Haley attended the high school graduation of Haley’s best friend’s. Welton first had purchased the ring when her fingers were smaller and had not gotten it re-sized. When they returned to their car, Welton had realized she did not have her ring. Welton and her daughter searched the football field, bleachers, and parking lot, but had no luck in finding the missing jewelry. She left her information in the office so if they did find her ring that following Mon., they could contact her. It was eight months before Welton heard anything about her ring.
“I was ecstatic when I got a letter from VCU that my ring had been found,” Welton said.
Welton did not find her ring but is grateful of the person who did. There are some people that would have kept it or pawned it for money.
“I appreciate the warm reception I received when I came to get my ring,” Welton said. “Thank you all.”
Conner Stevenson • Mar 30, 2012 at 7:09 am
I remember the first time I though i had lost my ring. It was NOT a fun experience. I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like years after graduating, when it is pretty much the only thing you have left from your high school years. It is great that this lady was able to be reconnected with her ring.
Lindsay Varga • Mar 29, 2012 at 5:55 pm
I remember when Mrs. Carmichael came into the yearbook room asking us to help her figure out who’s class ring it was. It got me thinking that I really don’t want to ever lose my class ring. Not just because of how expensive it was, but because of the sentimental value it has. I had not really thought about this issue much after she left the room. I am really happy that she got her ring back. It just goes to show that there are still good hearted people in this world!
Melissa Tomlin • Mar 29, 2012 at 5:44 pm
I think that it is great that someone was honest and gave her ring back to her. You do not hear to much of that anymore in today’s society. Having a class ring has s sense of unity between the high school. A class ring is always something that can be looked back upon and remembering the day that you got it.
Stephen Brockwell • Mar 29, 2012 at 3:22 pm
I am happy to hear that she found her ring. Things are lost in school relatively often, so it is nice to hear of something being found for a change, and eight months later no less! I am just glad that there are still some conscientious people in our school, and I think everyone can feel reassured with that in mind.
Kayla Bishop • Mar 29, 2012 at 2:43 pm
I am so happy to read this article it makes me happy to be a human being when i hear of stories like this.When a person goes out of their way to return something to person means alot it shows that there are people who still have good values. I feel like the women is lucky that the right person found her ring because there are people out there who would of just taken the ring or pawned it. I have my own class ring and i too would of been devasted if i lost mine so i am happy that hers was reutrned if i lost mine i would hope the same would happen to me.
Sarah Beth Howard • Mar 29, 2012 at 2:29 pm
I think another thing to think about with items like class rings is that when people find something and connect it to someone, there is a potential for creating a new relationship. Sometimes people communicate by letters whether it is by necessity or leisure. Also, sometimes the people they are communicating with are people that share something but have never met. If a ring is discovered, and someone is so willing to find out who’s it is, they probably are hoping that maybe they could begin a new friendship which could open up the doors to even more friendships.
Krystin Treglown • Mar 27, 2012 at 9:19 pm
A class ring is often seen as a “right of passage” object. It symbolizes that “hey you have made it this far and the journey of high school is close to an end.” The procedure begins ones’ sophmore year, and once the order is placed, it takes a whole 9 months to recieve your ring. Before I recieved mine I always wore my mother’s class ring. When I got my very own, I wear it all the time, without taking it off just life I did with her’s. The other day I thought I had lost my ring and I fault sick to my stomach. Luckily I found it at work where someone had turned it in to our manager. Thank goodness for people who come forth with something so precious to someone else.
Alex Crowder • Mar 27, 2012 at 11:09 am
As a person who loses things often, I can only express envy at Miss Welton’s ability to find her lost items. I’m glad that there are people out there who would send things back rather than pocket them for money. This is a heartwarming article, tried and true, even if it doesn’t seem like such a large story.
Megan Jonson • Mar 25, 2012 at 1:56 pm
I hate the feeling of when you realize you have lost something, I often get an awful feeling in my stomach and I feel like I could throw up. After going through the process of picking out the details for my own class ring the anticipation of having to wait almost nine months before I actually received it made me value it so much more than I ever could have imagine. Not only do I love having it, but it is such a memorable treasure of my high school years. I cannot imagine how she felt not having it for that long. The even more remarkable thing is that someone found it months later and had the morals to return it to her. It is nice to know that there are still some honest people in the world.
Jordan Thompson • Mar 25, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Since I have received my own class ring, I have worshiped it and made sure to take good care of it. I could not imagine what I would do if I ever lost my class ring, however how rewarding it is to hear that Miss Welton was able to find her class ring and even more than that how rewarding it is to know that an honest, caring individual had the desire to turn the class ring into the university rather than keeping it for themselves. This article reflects the idea that through perseverance, you can achieve anything even if it is just simply finding your class ring.
Olubusola Olanrewaju • Mar 23, 2012 at 7:47 am
I know the feeling of losing a class ring, because I myself have lost mine. Sometimes i randomly think about it because it did mean something and my parents spent money for it. So I think it’s great that someone would have such a kind heart and return it. Maybe all hope isn’t lost in society.
Amaya Ray • Mar 23, 2012 at 7:27 am
It is great that this lady recieved her ring back, because in many cases the person that found it would of tried to get money off of it. Class rings are not cheap. I did not get one because I felt my high school ring wasn’t that significant to me, but I do plan to get my college ring.
Bradley Cooper • Mar 20, 2012 at 6:03 pm
Unfortunately, we live in a world where even if you lose a dollar, you probably won’t ever get it back. It is remarkable to hear such a story where something so priceless because of worth and memories is returned to the rightful owner. It’s nice to know there are some honest and responsible people in the world.
Matthew Schneck • Mar 18, 2012 at 7:07 pm
It is great to see that she was able to find her ring. I think, however, that this article was written for a greater purpose than to just inform people about the ring finding. This article demonstrates to individuals that one should never give up on anything no matter how trivial or small the issue is. This article also reflects that human nature is not becoming as bad as the media portrays it to be. It is great to know that there are still good people out there.