Custom Presidential Medallion Designed by School of Art + Design Student will Debut at Investiture

RexArthur Ramos’ one-of-a-kind silver and gold leaf creation is heavy with symbolic elements and took over seven months to create.

April 11, 2019

By Mara Parker and Georgia Burgé

April 11, 2019

When President Adela de la Torre takes the stage next week at her investiture as SDSU’s ninth president, she will be wearing a beautiful, one-of-a-kind medallion designed exclusively for her by student RexArthur Ramos, an undergraduate studying jewelry design and metalsmithing at SDSU’s School of Art + Design.

Crafted from sterling silver and gold leaf, the medallion features many symbolic representations of the University, its history, the region, and its prominence as a leading institution of higher learning. One of the medallion’s unique features include nine waves that represent the University’s nine presidents, “each one bringing a new wave of leadership,” Ramos said.

De la Torre’s will not be the first medallion worn by an incoming SDSU president. According to Kotaro Nakamura, director of SDSU’s School of Art + Design, the previous medallion was created for the investiture of former SDSU President Stephen Weber, who served from 1996 through 2011. According to Nakamura, Weber’s medallion was quite large and heavy which prompted de la Torre to seek a new design that would be better suited to her smaller stature.

It was Nakamura who recommended Ramos as the medallion’s designer after seeing his work on display at Taboo Studios, a local contemporary jewelry gallery. This past summer, Taboo announced Ramos as the winner of its 2018 SDSU Student Excellence Award in Jewelry and Metalwork.

“RexArthur’s work is unique and beautiful, and his craftsmanship is impeccable,” said Nakamura. “When the call went out for submissions, he was the first student that came to mind.”

Ramos said he felt very supported by President de la Torre and her staff throughout the design process which began with the submission of several initial sketches to President de la Torre for her review and comments. Once she had selected her favorite, de la Torre and Ramos worked together to create the various elements of the piece.

“President de la Torre was so enjoyable to work with,” said Ramos. “Her passion for SDSU as well as her new position really came through in every meeting we had together.”

It has taken Ramos 100 hours to create the finished medallion, and though it has been a long journey, Ramos said, “it will be a bittersweet parting.”

You can see RexArthur’s custom Presidential medallion at the Investiture of President Adela de la Torre on Thursday, April 11, 2019 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm in Viejas Arena. After the event, the medallion will become part of the SDSU Special Collections and University Archives

The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.

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