Get dipped in purple pride, shake hands with the university president and receive your SFA Ring. The Big Dip ceremony is a right of passage for upperclassmen who have 60 or more credit hours.
The Big Dip is held at the end of fall and spring semesters. You will receive an invitation after your ring purchase.
By purchasing The Official SFA Ring*, you can participate in one of our great Lumberjack traditions, The Big Dip.
What is the Big Dip?
The Big Dip is a right of passage for upperclassmen, and is held at the end of the fall and spring semesters. DIP stands for "Dipped In Pride”…purple pride that is! The water in the Dip is from the Stephen F. Austin fountain. Anyone who has received
the SFA ring can participate in the Big Dip no matter when they received it. This event was started in 2002 and has now been voted Best Tradition on campus.
Do I need to RSVP?
All Big Dip participants will have assigned seating to the right of the stage and will be listed in alphabetical order by last name. Guest seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. The doors will open at 8:30 a.m. for seating.
Who should I contact if I need special assistance during the Big Dip?
Please contact Samantha Mora at smora@sfasu.edu or (936) 468-1132 if you or a guest needs special assistance during the ceremony.
How long will the dye stay on my hands?
Don’t worry…it’s not permanent. The dye will stay on your hand anywhere from a couple of hours to 2 days, depending on how many times you wash your hands.
How should I dress?
We say casual dress for the Big Dip and feel free to show your school spirit by wearing purple for Spirit Friday! You will be dipping your hand in purple dye so please remember that white, light or orange colored clothing might not be the best option.
Do I need to wear the Big Dip nametag?
All Big Dip participants will have a nametag located in their assigned seat. We would like all participants to wear the nametags so we can identify you in pictures. All pictures will be posted on the SFA Alumni Association’s facebook page the following
week.
What happens after the Big Dip Ceremony?
All participants will need to make their way to the Round-about near the STEM Building (or during inclement weather, the Student Center atrium and stairway) for a group photo, and we will have volunteers to lead the way. We very graciously ask
that you make your way to the picture location immediately following the ceremony and have a location to meet up with your family and friends after the photo. The photo should take no longer than 10-15 minutes after the ceremony. Big Dip
participants will also receive a "SFA Ring Card,” which gives participants who flash their SFA ring and purple hand at certain establishments anything from free lunches to discounts for SFA memorabilia. The newly added Big Dip Beer &
Bites community event will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Fredonia Brewery; we welcome family and friends to join us to celebrate your SFA ring.
Will there be pictures taken of the participants?
Yes, we have recently contracted with Grad Images to provide this service. Each Student will have 3 prominent photo spots, while dipping, receiving the ring from the president and in front of an off-stage backdrop. In addition, the group shot of each
ceremony as well as crowd shots will be taken. These will be made available to you to review and purchase.
GradImages® is proud to be the official event photographer for the Big Dip! Pre-Register with GradImages before the Big Dip and receive a discount! Please go here to pre-register: www.gradimages.com/registration.
Finding your photos after the event is easy. You will receive your free photo proofs via email or mail after the event or you can search for your images on www.gradimages.com/stephenfaustin.
Questions? Please contact the GradImages Customer Service Department at (800) 261-2576 or ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.
What do the symbols on my SFA Ring mean?
*In order to participate in the Big Dip students and alumni must purchase the official SFA ring through Balfour and SFARing.com. Outside rings will not be accepted to participate in the Big Dip.
Print Page | Contact Us | Your Cart | Sign In | Register
