Coinciding with my class' convocation from McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business MBA program, this past June, was the commencement of a new tradition that seeks to further define the identity of the DeGroote MBA, and what they stand for.
This tradition revolves around the gifting of a special, DeGroote MBA legacy ring to each successful graduate of the program. The idea for this tradition first originated as a conversation between myself and two others (Mark Stewart, Derek Chan), while returning from an MBA Leadership conference in fall 2009. Though the idea for such a project had been tossed around in previous years, nothing had ever truly taken shape. As we discussed the idea in the car, our conversation began to focus more on how to actually get it done, essentially, the steps needed to implement the program, and then the ways in which it could successfully be brought to fruition as a fully fledged tradition.
As such, between that fall 2009, and winter 2012, on the behalf of, and with the support and assistance of, the DeGroote MBA Association (particularly President, Geoff Reiner), I worked ensure that the idea became a reality. This process included everything from the design of the ring's face, and the sourcing of the rings themselves, to designing a ring fee schedule that would be incorporated into each student's regular tuition, and then holding a student wide referendum to approve this schedule (and the effective launching of a continuous, self-fulfilling tradition).
Therefore, on the evening of June 12th, with the referendum successfully passed, rings ordered, and Graduation the following morning, the first-ever recipients of this DeGroote MBA Legacy Ring gathered at the McMaster University Alumni House, for the inaugural ring conferring ceremony. This was both a casual affair, but also a significant one, as it marked the initiation of what is sure to be a long and fruitful tradition.
You can read more about this new tradition here.
And see below for the statement of purpose, explaining the symbolism and motivations behind this initiative:
As the DeGroote School of Business’ MBA program enters a new era, with its new home at Burlington’s Ron Joyce Centre, the school is afforded a reinvigorated opportunity to continue to build upon its already renowned reputation, and the reputation of the degree that it confers.
To this end, the DeGroote MBAA has introduced a new tradition that will accompany each student’s completion of the DeGroote School of Business’ MBA program.
This tradition is a symbolic token; a gift awarded to each student for their successful completion of the program. Moreover, it is intended to be a reminder of their commitment to principles of ethics and integrity in all their future endeavours.
This token is the DeGroote MBA signet ring. In times past, when pressed in wax, a signet’s seal would serve as an individual’s mark of identity, representing the individual and their reputation on all official documents and correspondences that bore their name. As such, the symbolism behind this project is that, as we as students move on in both our professional and personal lives, we carry with us the experience and education successfully attained at the DeGroote School of Business and ensure that in all our future actions we have “stamped and sealed” our commitment to integrity. In other words we impress the lessons that the DeGroote School of Business has bestowed on us into the rest of our lives.
Gifted to each DeGroote MBA graduate, this tradition will be a proud and public showing of support for the DeGroote program, its significance, and the excellent reputation that it continues to build on our behalf. This ring, with the corresponding DeGroote seal, though seemingly a mere token, will poetically represent the program, and the devotion that all DeGroote MBA graduates maintain upon their successful completion, towards the principles of ethics and integrity, both professionally and personally.
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| At the Ceremony... Just a little proud of myself. (See ring on right index finger) |
