Nearly 50 Years After Texas A&M Graduation, Veterinarian Finally Gets His Aggie Ring Thanks to 24-Year-Old Student

• Because of financial factors while as a student at Texas A&M University in the 1970s, Dr. Rohn Hendricks never got the prestigious Aggie Ring

• After learning this, family friend Abigail Lee, who is currently pursuing her master's degree at the university, secretly raised funds to purchase the ring on his behalf

• “I never expected her to take it on herself to get me a ring,” Hendricks tells PEOPLE, adding, “I mean, it was just totally surprising to me"

After nearly 50 years, an equine veterinarian and Texas A&M University alum finally received one thing that had been missing since his graduation: the coveted Aggie Ring.

Dr. Rohn Hendricks, 70, of Waxahachie, Texas, is a member of the Texas A&M Class of '76 and later went on to earn graduate and doctoral degrees from the school in 1982 and 1991.

Since 1999, he has been running an equine veterinary service that bears his name and is well-known in the Waxahachie area. And yet, he tells PEOPLE that when people learn he attended Texas A&M, they always ask him one question: "Where's your ring?"

"It's a big symbol for Aggies," Hendricks says.

According to its website, the Aggie Ring represents “a tradition that is deep in symbolism. Every symbol represents values every Aggie should hold: excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service.”

It's also a way for alums to connect with one another.

“You can see someone in an airport wearing that ring and you know they're an Aggie," adds Hendricks. "Chances are you're going to walk up and say ‘Hi.’ ”

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As for why he doesn't have one, Hendricks explains that during his time as an A&M undergrad in the 1970s, he was paying his way through school — and coughing up $90 to get the ring just wasn't in the cards.

"I knew I wanted to go to vet school,“ he recalls. “So I just kept thinking, ‘Well, I'll get [a ring] one of these days.’ The next thing you know, you're 70.”

Plus, given his job, he just wasn't sure how much he'd actually wear it (or at least, that's what he told himself). "I work with horses a lot and I'm always using my hands a lot," he says.

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Hendricks’ work as a horse vet in Ellis County has brought him in touch with people like the family of Abigail Lee, 24, who is currently completing her master’s in agricultural leadership at Texas A&M and will pursue her PhD in animal science next fall.

“He was my role model,” she tells PEOPLE.  “He's constantly checking in on my coursework and how I'm progressing and always inviting me to go to church with him. He's just so caring and loving and exactly what you would want as a friend.”

One day in May 2024, Hendricks came to check on one of Lee’s family mules, when she noticed that he didn’t have his Aggie ring, then learned he didn't have one. "I was like, ‘Hold on,' " Lee says. But even though she "totally understood" his explanation, she quickly had another thought: "We need to get this man his ring."

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Lee went about raising money for Hendricks’ ring, first by emailing several people at A&M if she could order one for an alum. Then she started a GoFundMe in June.

“It took a week and a half for fundraising to be complete,” Lee says, “and the total amount was $1,650, somewhere around there. I went and ordered the ring online and they sent an email back saying, ‘Pickup is the week of November 4th.’ ”

But Lee had another idea that went beyond her just simply picking up the ring and handing it to him.

“I reached out again to the community and was like, ‘How would you feel about a big community ring day?’ And everyone was on board," she says. "So I sent out a flyer, and that ended up being spread everywhere. And I was getting texts from old roommates, old friends, old childhood friends. I mean everyone. And they showed up. It was just so pure.”

The reveal took place on Nov. 10, 2024, at the community hall of Bethel Church, following Sunday service. At the gathering, Hendricks was surprised to see old classmates from his senior year as an undergrad and roommates during his graduate studies. Then he was presented with his long-awaited Aggie ring.

“I never expected her to take it on herself to get me a ring,” Hendricks recalls about that moment.  “I mean, it was just totally surprising to me. I didn't have a clue.”

“I was pretty much speechless," he adds. "I didn't give an acceptance speech or anything. I just pretty much waved to everybody because I think my voice would've broken up a little bit had I tried to speak. It's nice to be appreciated."

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Lee says Hendricks’ story shows that people can still honor others for their accomplishments and what they have done for the community. “We need to be leaning into those moments and celebrating the good that is happening," she says. "So many people showed up for this man because they loved him, and it was that simple."

"I want people to see that we need to have more of that," she adds. "We need to be celebrating the good and the people in our lives that are doing good and are spreading positivity that needs to be rewarded, and that's what matters.”

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Hendricks says the story is much about Lee as it is about him and the ring. “Very few would actually get on Facebook and contact people and get the ball rolling to get something like this and keep it a surprise because that had to take a lot of effort,” he says. “She's going to be a leader as a young person in the future. She's got a lot going for her.”

Today Hendricks —  who plans to move back to College Station, where A&M is located, if and when he retires — proudly has his new Aggie ring on his finger.

“I'm going to keep wearing it,” he says. “Before I was like, Oh, I'd probably just set it up on a dresser and just wear it when I go out to dinner or travel someplace because it is pretty recognizable and there are quite a few Aggies out in the world. But no, I think I'll just keep it on."

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