Ok, A friend just told me about this. I was wondering if any of you are a part of the order. For those of you who never heard of it, below is a link.
This tradition originated in Canada in the 1920’s when a group of past presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada asked Rudyard Kipling, the writer, to come up with an obligation and ceremony for engineers. Since then, all graduates of Canadian engineering programs undergo the ceremony and receive an Iron Ring upon graduation, which is worn on the pinky of the working hand. The Order of the Engineer in the USA was founded in the 1970’s to start a similar program in the States.
I’ll be going through the ceremony and getting a ring when I graduate in about 2.5 years.
I did not go through the ceremony, but instead made my own ring. I did read the policies and was very moved by the story behind the canadian ceremony. I wear the ring to remind me of my responsibilities to the public. People often ask me if I am Canadian when they see it.
Kettering University has an Order of the Engineer.
The ceremony is outside of the graduation ceremony but I know a lot of people joined.
So to answer the question, I am a part of the Order of the Engineer.
I would have to agree with IKE, people think you are Canadian when they see it.
-Clinton-