Dallas, Texas (April 10, 2008)— On Sunday, April 13, Jim Hart will become the second distinguished SMU alum to be honored at the annual Ring Ceremony. At the ceremony, held in Perkins Chapel, SMU Young Alumni Programs and Development will present Hart with an SMU Ring.

Hart, a 1969 graduate has spend the past three decades producing, directing and writing films. His most famous movie projects include Hook, Contact, Sahara and Muppet Treasure Island. He has been a part of the Sundance Film Festival and Austin Film Festival and is a professor at Columbia University’s graduate school program.

Hart will speak about his accomplishments and time spent at SMU. Hart follows last year’s honoree Dr. Jim Caswell. Hart's family and friends from all over the country are flying into Dallas to celebrate.

The SMU ring is a tradition dating back to 1924. At this year’s fifth annual Ring Ceremony, over 400 family and friend attendees will watch students receive their rings. These juniors and seniors who bought rings join the over 3,000 graduates wearing the SMU Ring worldwide.

The rings are stored in historic Dallas Hall until the day of the ceremony when an armed police officer walks them to McFarlin Auditorium. Students wear their rings pointing south until graduation when President Turner calls for student to turn their rings north to signify their end as students.

SMU Young Alumni Programs and Development is headed by Director, Andrew Snow who created the Ring Ceremony five years ago. In addition to the SMU Ring campaign, the department also holds events for Dallas area alumni throughout the year.