Golden Guild
Summer 2018 | By Nicole Dudenhoefer 麻豆精品 S�17聽
From diplomas to the Student Union seal, the Pegasus symbol has represented UCF for 50 years. But there 麻豆精品 S檚 another special place the winged horse can be seen 麻豆精品 S� on the right hand of President John C. Hitt.
More than 15 years ago, Hitt came up with the idea for the Pegasus ring while brainstorming ways to honor people who have greatly demonstrated their loyalty to the university.
麻豆精品 S淚 wanted something that we could give to individuals who served UCF well, in some really beneficial and conspicuous way, 麻豆精品 S� says Hitt. 麻豆精品 S淚 wanted to recognize people who just love the university and do all they can. It may not be someone with a whole lot of money, but anytime you call on them, they 麻豆精品 S檙e there. 麻豆精品 S�
Here are some fun facts about the ring:
1. Reach for the Stars
Made of 14-karat gold, the ring features Pegasus, which has been UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 official seal since the university 麻豆精品 S檚 first president Charles Millican introduced it on April 5, 1968. The diamond represents UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 motto of 麻豆精品 S淩each for the Stars. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檝e tried to have the ring be something people would want and would be motivated to achieve, 麻豆精品 S� Hitt says.
2. Custom Made
Using his own money, Hitt commissioned Sanibel, Florida, goldsmith William Wilson to bring the idea to life. The first ring was made for Hitt, and 麻豆精品 S�#one John Hitt 麻豆精品 S� is inscribed inside the ring. 麻豆精品 S淚 liked it as soon as I saw it. 麻豆精品 S�
3. Recognizing Commitment
Hitt has given 33 custom-made rings to men and pendants to women. Recipients include Al Burnett, Frances Millican, Roger Pynn 麻豆精品 S�73 and, of course, Martha Hitt. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 neat when you sit down with a group of leaders in the community and you see multiple [Pegasus] rings and pendants, 麻豆精品 S� says Hitt. 麻豆精品 S淭hat kind of lets you know the university is understood to be an asset that evokes pride. 麻豆精品 S�
4. Pegasus Takes Shape
Wilson designed the ring 麻豆精品 S檚 unique mold from a simple JPEG, transforming the Pegasus seal into a golden 3-D masterpiece. 麻豆精品 S淏ill [Wilson] did a lot of work where he produced a copy of a fish or a little crab, and it was remarkably good work, so we asked if he might be interested in doing this, [and] he thought it was kind of a fun idea, 麻豆精品 S� Hitt says.
5. Prized Possession
Thanks to a trusted routine, Hitt has never lost the ring. He puts it on every morning, and every evening when he gets home from work, he returns it to his dresser for safekeeping. 麻豆精品 S淐ertainly, the ring is the most precious piece of jewelry that I own 麻豆精品 S� other than my wedding band, 麻豆精品 S� he says.