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I was going through my messages and came across several emails for alumni merch sales leading up to homecoming. It got me thinking...
We traditionally hear of seniors purchasing a class ring in high school, but how common of a purchase are they among college students?
Likewise, companies like Jostens have the "Uploma" which is a desk ornament with your school name, mascot, and degree etched in. Other folks I have known will buy (or frame themselves) a photograph of a well-known building or statue from their campus. Then there are all the alumni hats, shirts, pants, coffee mugs, car decals and so on... some folks will go to homecoming, while others do not... and finally, some folks donate money back to their schools, and others don't.
So my questions to all of you are, what is common where you live? What rings, clothes, mugs, photos, or other swag do YOU have? ...and for those of us with multiple schools under our belt, how do you balance things? Is one school considered your "alma mater" while another isn't. Do you think more of your undergraduate program, or your graduate school(s)?
Do you have a fondness for your athletic program, or do you cheer for another school ?
Let me hear your thoughts.
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I have sweatshirts from many of the colleges I've attended. I'm not buying merch to make the college money or provide them with additional advertising. I think it's different when you're 20 years old and living on campus or in a nearby apartment. I live in a college town so I can't go a single day without seeing a shirt or sticker.
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(09-29-2026, 02:23 PM)ss20ts Wrote: I have sweatshirts from many of the colleges I've attended. I'm not buying merch to make the college money or provide them with additional advertising. I think it's different when you're 20 years old and living on campus or in a nearby apartment. I live in a college town so I can't go a single day without seeing a shirt or sticker.
I too live in a college town, but my guilty pleasure is wearing out of state college swag.
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09-30-2026, 12:49 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-30-2026, 12:50 AM by Mint Berry Crunch.)
Best I can do is a hat and a mug, granted, I wear my WPUNJ hat practically everyday and its beginning to fade
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09-30-2026, 07:31 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-30-2026, 07:32 AM by Charles Fout.)
I have one nice AMU Tee shirt and travel mug - Gifts from an AMU Home Coming event
Since I now live in the greater Lynchburg, Virginia, area Liberty University clothing is plentiful. I frequently wear Liberty University polo shirts. Fun coincidence: the President of the International Judo Federation is a member of Liberty Judo Club in Romania. I was wearing a Liberty University polo shirt one day while attending my practical session of the International Judo Federation Academy. Several people asked me if I had visited Liberty Judo Club in Romania.
My current life-long learning is with the University of Chicago Graham School. I wear University of Chicago Maroons attire and Old Style Beer tee shirts
My favorite Alumni pride is my recent investment in American Public University. (APEI)I posted about that a little while ago.
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09-30-2026, 11:42 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-30-2026, 11:46 AM by FireMedic_Philosopher.)
(09-30-2026, 07:31 AM)Charles Fout Wrote: I have one nice AMU Tee shirt and travel mug - Gifts from an AMU Home Coming event
Since I now live in the greater Lynchburg, Virginia, area Liberty University clothing is plentiful. I frequently wear Liberty University polo shirts. Fun coincidence: the President of the International Judo Federation is a member of Liberty Judo Club in Romania. I was wearing a Liberty University polo shirt one day while attending my practical session of the International Judo Federation Academy. Several people asked me if I had visited Liberty Judo Club in Romania.
My current life-long learning is with the University of Chicago Graham School. I wear University of Chicago Maroons attire and Old Style Beer tee shirts
My favorite Alumni pride is my recent investment in American Public University. (APEI)I posted about that a little while ago.
I will permit the wearing of Old Style shirts... but I absolutely draw the line with Molort polos.

IYKYK
Out of curiosity....
How many folks have a class ring from a college or university? And if so.... was it from your undergrad school or a graduate school ?
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A college class ring? Yeah no. I don't even have a high school class ring. I have far better things to spend my money on than a class ring.
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Dear Emergency Philosopher:
What is "Molort?"
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(10-01-2026, 07:05 AM)Charles Fout Wrote: Dear Emergency Philosopher:
What is "Molort?"
An alcoholic beverage that is simultaneously called the official booze of Chicago and the worst tasting alcoholic beverage the world has known... in the same breath.
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Well I do have some Shirts of our Student's Union, which I got elected a member of the board fpr a few years. membership in our state was mandatory and we were allowed by law to tax alle the students from our University. From this money we operated a student cafe and paid the boardmembers for taking part in different boards like the senate. We also paid a ticket for public transport for each students from the mandatory membershipfee.
And I kept some my old campaign-posters I used to run for the board in the public student's vote.
Otherwise I don't have any memorabiliya from my Amla Mater.
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Balances and valuation (Chamber of Commerce)
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AI BASICS: FLUENCY & DISCERNMENT and AI ADVANCED: LEADERSHIP & WISDOM (George Fox University)
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