A Symbol of Perseverance

University of Houston undergraduate students who complete over 70 hours of college credits earn the opportunity to purchase an official UH Class Ring to commemorate their accomplishment. Every winter and spring, the University of Houston Alumni Association (UHAA) hosts a Ring Ceremony to award students with their rings in front of their family, friends, loved ones and peers. To celebrate this milestone, the UHAA sponsors a Ring Scholarship to gift rings to three qualified students.

Anna Economon (’24) and Sifa Opot (’24) are two of this year’s recipients. For both, the award symbolizes what their time at UH meant to them.

“I was thrilled to receive the Ring Scholarship because it is a culmination of all of my hard work at UH,” Economon shares.

Opot echoes the same sentiment. This spring marked the second time she applied for the ring scholarship. Winning the scholarship on her second try validated an important lesson she learned while pursuing her degree.

“Delay is not denial,” Opot emphasizes. She intended to complete her biochemistry degree in two years, but it took six.

“My time here took me longer than anyone expected, but it was worthwhile and truly beneficial. I feel as though I deserve this UH Class Ring Scholarship because I turned my losses into lessons.”

Sifa Opot ('24)

Opot’s time at the University was marked by personal tragedies. In 2020, she lost her childhood best friend due to complications from Covid-19. In December 2021, on the night of her brother’s graduation from UH, Opot and her brother were involved in a major car accident caused by a drunk driver. She endured various financial, emotional and psychological challenges, crediting therapy and prayer groups with giving her the necessary faith and confidence needed to continue on.

“I’m grateful that I took the time I needed. I know who I am. I know what I want to do. I know my purpose and my passion, and I can make an impact in the world,” Opot says.

She studied biochemistry with the initial goal of attending medical school. However, she realized that becoming a pediatrician was not the only way she could help children. She shifted her attention toward public and community health.

In the summer of 2022, she coordinated a drive through the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority to gather feminine hygiene products for Siaya County in Kenya. She initiated a Service Saturday event in collaboration with the Black Student Health Association and Collegiate 100. The University welcomed elementary and middle school mentees from the U.S. Dream Academy for the event. The mentees engaged in a STEM activity and were given a campus tour by members of the UH Orientation Team.

“For a lot of the mentees, this was their first time on a college campus. As a youth advocate within this community, I was able to expand their scope of possibilities. That day was my favorite memory at UH,” Opot shares.

After graduating, she continues in her community engagement efforts, promoting youth advocacy with the U.S. Dream Academy as well as providing assistance to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through a home care organization. She intends to return to school for a Master of Science in Public Health in the future. However, she currently wants to dedicate her time to commemorating her accomplishments.

As a third-generation Coog, Anna Economon believed that she was destined to attend the University of Houston. However, she still faced challenges as an undergraduate.

Despite growing up in Amsterdam, she frequently visited UH campus because her parents are alumni. However, relocating 5,000 miles away from home was still challenging, especially because her freshman year coincided with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a member of the women’s golf team, she was required to live on campus, but all of her classes were online.

“This made it difficult to make friends and feel a sense of belonging, yet I remained optimistic. My ambition to make the most out of the following three years has allowed me to approach academics, athletics and social life with renewed vigor. I am determined to make the most out of each day and to take in everything that Houston has to offer to make my UH experience truly unforgettable.”

Economon sees her class ring as a symbol of her commitment to support UH and her drive to serve as an ambassador for her and her parents’ alma mater.

“I represented UH on the golf course as a D1 athlete and advocated for my peers as president of the student-athlete advisory committee. Owning a UH Class Ring is a public testament to my love for UH.”

Anna Economon ('24)

She has completed her Bachelor of Science in economics and is currently completing her Master of Business Administration at the Bauer College of Business. Next, she intends to start her career at Procter & Gamble as a brand manager.

For Anna Economon and Sifa Opot, their rings signify their perseverance through personal and academic challenges. Their stories exemplify the Cougar spirit, illustrating that the UH Class Ring symbolizes more than just academic achievement. It represents the resilience, dedication and community spirit of its recipients as well.