Texas Primary Election Day – Tuesday, March 5

Your Participation is Critical to the Process Interested in what you can do as a Texas Ex heading into tomorrow’s primaries? Here are some quick thoughts:  Talk to friends and neighbors about who you support and why.  Volunteer at a polling location on Tuesday for a candidate you endorse.   Donate to a candidate you endorse.  Most importantly, if you did not get around to it in early voting—GO VOTE on March 5!  Our systems of government are designed for people to have a voice by voting so that the people elected to office best represent the population they serve. Our form of democracy works best when citizen participation is high—we are a long way from that.  In the 2022 primary election, Texas had a voting age population of 21,866,700, and only 3,029,773 (13.86%) Texans cast a ballot. Currently, major party primary election participation rates are not getting better, which results not only in sub-optimal representation, but also in greater voter apathy.  Yet, major party primary elections may be the most important opportunity most voters have to shape an election. In Texas, many congressional, state senate and state house districts are weighted more Republican or more Democratic. Additionally, many seats do not have major party general election challengers. These two factors alone give a significant likelihood that in many cases the outcome of the election is truly determined in the major party primaries.  One additional reason the major party primaries should matter to you is that the propositions on primary ballots are a substantial factor in determining each party platform that will inform policy decisions and serve as a guide to your elected officials as they represent you.   The Texas Exes advocacy program's mission is to encourage alumni to participate—to be a factor— and to lead by engaging in the process on which our governments are founded. Many times, we ask alumni to participate in shaping legislation, encouraging lawmakers to make decisions that will benefit UT Austin, and we believe by doing so, the state. However, today we are encouraging you simply to go vote.   The more Longhorns that participate in elections, the better it is for our state and nation, but also for our University. As alumni, we do have the power to change the world, and one of the most important ways in which you can do that is to make sure you cast your ballot tomorrow.   Here is more information on where and how to vote: https://www.votetexas.gov/  Need to find out who represents you? Check Here. 

Texas Primary Election Day – Tuesday, March 5

Your Participation is Critical to the Process Interested in what you can do as a Texas Ex heading into tomorrow’s primaries? Here are some quick thoughts:  Talk to friends and neighbors about who you support and why.  Volunteer at a polling location on Tuesday for a candidate you endorse.   Donate to a candidate you endorse.  Most importantly, if you did not get around to it in early voting—GO VOTE on March 5!  Our systems of government are designed for people to have a voice by voting so that the people elected to office best represent the population they serve. Our form of democracy works best when citizen participation is high—we are a long way from that.  In the 2022 primary election, Texas had a voting age population of 21,866,700, and only 3,029,773 (13.86%) Texans cast a ballot. Currently, major party primary election participation rates are not getting better, which results not only in sub-optimal representation, but also in greater voter apathy.  Yet, major party primary elections may be the most important opportunity most voters have to shape an election. In Texas, many congressional, state senate and state house districts are weighted more Republican or more Democratic. Additionally, many seats do not have major party general election challengers. These two factors alone give a significant likelihood that in many cases the outcome of the election is truly determined in the major party primaries.  One additional reason the major party primaries should matter to you is that the propositions on primary ballots are a substantial factor in determining each party platform that will inform policy decisions and serve as a guide to your elected officials as they represent you.   The Texas Exes advocacy program's mission is to encourage alumni to participate—to be a factor— and to lead by engaging in the process on which our governments are founded. Many times, we ask alumni to participate in shaping legislation, encouraging lawmakers to make decisions that will benefit UT Austin, and we believe by doing so, the state. However, today we are encouraging you simply to go vote.   The more Longhorns that participate in elections, the better it is for our state and nation, but also for our University. As alumni, we do have the power to change the world, and one of the most important ways in which you can do that is to make sure you cast your ballot tomorrow.   Here is more information on where and how to vote: https://www.votetexas.gov/  Need to find out who represents you? Check Here. 

Texas Primary Election Day – Tuesday, March 5

Your Participation is Critical to the Process Interested in what you can do as a Texas Ex heading into tomorrow’s primaries? Here are some quick thoughts:  Talk to friends and neighbors about who you support and why.  Volunteer at a polling location on Tuesday for a candidate you endorse.   Donate to a candidate you endorse.  Most importantly, if you did not get around to it in early voting—GO VOTE on March 5!  Our systems of government are designed for people to have a voice by voting so that the people elected to office best represent the population they serve. Our form of democracy works best when citizen participation is high—we are a long way from that.  In the 2022 primary election, Texas had a voting age population of 21,866,700, and only 3,029,773 (13.86%) Texans cast a ballot. Currently, major party primary election participation rates are not getting better, which results not only in sub-optimal representation, but also in greater voter apathy.  Yet, major party primary elections may be the most important opportunity most voters have to shape an election. In Texas, many congressional, state senate and state house districts are weighted more Republican or more Democratic. Additionally, many seats do not have major party general election challengers. These two factors alone give a significant likelihood that in many cases the outcome of the election is truly determined in the major party primaries.  One additional reason the major party primaries should matter to you is that the propositions on primary ballots are a substantial factor in determining each party platform that will inform policy decisions and serve as a guide to your elected officials as they represent you.   The Texas Exes advocacy program's mission is to encourage alumni to participate—to be a factor— and to lead by engaging in the process on which our governments are founded. Many times, we ask alumni to participate in shaping legislation, encouraging lawmakers to make decisions that will benefit UT Austin, and we believe by doing so, the state. However, today we are encouraging you simply to go vote.   The more Longhorns that participate in elections, the better it is for our state and nation, but also for our University. As alumni, we do have the power to change the world, and one of the most important ways in which you can do that is to make sure you cast your ballot tomorrow.   Here is more information on where and how to vote: https://www.votetexas.gov/  Need to find out who represents you? Check Here. 

Forty Acres Scholars Program Class of 2028 Finalists

The Forty Acres Scholars Program is proud to announce the 52 finalists for the Class of 2028. Admissions invited around 1,300 students to apply. Out of the 850 applications received, 120 semifinalists were chosen to advance to a video interview.  This year’s finalists come from six U.S. states and have been admitted to eight different schools and colleges across the University. Many of them participate in nationally recognized organizations and competitions such as DECA and UIL. Many are also valedictorians, athletes, team captains, musicians, and student body presidents. Some are founders of nonprofits, school organizations, and online platforms; published authors; business owners; and researchers. They spend their time participating in countless hours of community service, leading clubs and organizations in their schools, and interning across the nation.   From February 29 to March 2, 2024, these exceptional high school students will join us on campus to participate in Finalist Weekend. Activities will include visits with their admitted colleges, a mock class with a UT professor, campus and college tours, panels with current Forty Acres Scholars, optional daily activities, and an individual interview.   The Forty Acres Scholars Program inspires and nurtures visionary leaders and helps them use their talents to benefit society. Our scholars demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a track record of outstanding academic success. Most importantly, they have passion and a desire to live out the core values of The University of Texas at Austin. The three tenets of the program are community, connection, and discovery. The program is a transformational adventure that helps individuals reach their full potential, and, alongside academic achievement, focuses on personal development, relationship building, and gaining perspective. In the only program of its kind administered by an alumni association, Forty Acres Scholars develop a unique relationship with their alma mater and graduate with an extraordinary network of Longhorns standing behind them.    Scholarship funding provides for tuition, a living stipend, a book stipend, an enrichment stipend, and program activities.   Meet the finalists: Ashley Abrahams    Prosper High School  Prosper, Texas      Anjum Alam  Lone Star College System Houston, Texas      Anna Kate Albritton Highland Park High School  Dallas, Texas      Astrid Allen   Kinder High School for the Performing & Visual Arts   Houston, Texas      Myshae Allen   Central High School  San Angelo, Texas      Awas Amin   Carroll Senior High School    Southlake, Texas      Nnenna Anyadiegwu   Trinity Valley School   Fort Worth, Texas     Alison Beanblossom    New Trier High School   Winnetka, Illinois     Nicole Beres    Carroll Senior High School   Southlake, Texas      Peyton Bono   Highland Park High School    Dallas, Texas      Emma Corbell   Lone Star High School  Frisco, Texas      Blair Davis    St. John's School   Houston, Texas      Matthew Freel    Kingwood High School Kingwood, Texas      Rithvik Gabri   Cistercian Preparatory School   Irving, Texas      Catherin Guerra   Grulla High School  Rio Grande City, Texas      Rishi Hariharaprasad    Louis D. Brandeis High School   San Antonio, Texas     Alexander Hernandez     Energy Institute High School  Houston, Texas      Dabeluchi Isiofia    Veterans Memorial High School   Corpus Christi, Texas      Lindsey Karkowsky   The Kinkaid School   Houston, Texas      Lucy Katz    Episcopal High School   Houston, Texas      Sanjana Kavula   Emerson High School   McKinney, Texas     Rizwan Khan  Plano West Senior High School  Plano, Texas      Walton Kunu   The Village High School   Missouri City, Texas      Sophia Li   Greenhill School   Plano, Texas     Eshaan Mani   The Kinkaid School   Sugar Land, Texas   Varun Manickam   Bellaire Senior High School   Houston, Texas      Macy McAfee   Stratford High School   Houston, Texas      Anagha Menon   Seven Lakes High School   Katy, Texas     Aubrey Menz   Boerne High School   Boerne, Texas     Michael Murphy   St. John's School  Houston, Texas     Grace Nelson   Round Rock High School Round Rock, Texas     Michael O'Connor    Saint Viator High School   Arlington Heights, Illinois      Chioma Olorondu    George Ranch High School   Richmond, Texas      Eeshwar Parasuramuni    Frisco High School Frisco, Texas      Riley Pierce   The Altamont School   Vestavia, Alabama     Trinity Power    Frisco High School  Frisco, Texas      Rohan Ralli    Centennial High School   Frisco, Texas      Nikhil Reddy   Carroll Senior High School   Keller, Texas        Akhil Samavedam    Westlake High School   Austin, Texas      Sandeep Sethuraman   BASIS Chandler    Chandler, Arizona     Paisley Smith   Cedar Creek High School   Cedar Creek, Texas      Luke Sotelo    Antonian College Preparatory High School  San Antonio, Texas      Katie Szlauko    Allan Hancock College   Pismo Beach, California     Chiamaka Uwalaka   Carnegie Vanguard High School    Houston, Texas      Prisha Vithalani   Plano West Senior High School   Plano, Texas      Landon Von Minden   La Grange High School  La Grange, Texas      Zachary Wagner   Grassfield High School   Chesapeake, Virginia      Kai Weaver   Heights High School   Houston, Texas      Andy Wei   Stephen F. Austin High School   Sugar Land, Texas      Kyle Xu   Flour Bluff High School   Corpus Christi, Texas      Jeannette Yang   Greenhill School   Frisco, Texas      Kathleen Yu    Seven Lakes High School   Katy, Texas     

Forty Acres Scholars Program Class of 2028 Finalists

The Forty Acres Scholars Program is proud to announce the 52 finalists for the Class of 2028. Admissions invited around 1,300 students to apply. Out of the 850 applications received, 120 semifinalists were chosen to advance to a video interview.  This year’s finalists come from six U.S. states and have been admitted to eight different schools and colleges across the University. Many of them participate in nationally recognized organizations and competitions such as DECA and UIL. Many are also valedictorians, athletes, team captains, musicians, and student body presidents. Some are founders of nonprofits, school organizations, and online platforms; published authors; business owners; and researchers. They spend their time participating in countless hours of community service, leading clubs and organizations in their schools, and interning across the nation.   From February 29 to March 2, 2024, these exceptional high school students will join us on campus to participate in Finalist Weekend. Activities will include visits with their admitted colleges, a mock class with a UT professor, campus and college tours, panels with current Forty Acres Scholars, optional daily activities, and an individual interview.   The Forty Acres Scholars Program inspires and nurtures visionary leaders and helps them use their talents to benefit society. Our scholars demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a track record of outstanding academic success. Most importantly, they have passion and a desire to live out the core values of The University of Texas at Austin. The three tenets of the program are community, connection, and discovery. The program is a transformational adventure that helps individuals reach their full potential, and, alongside academic achievement, focuses on personal development, relationship building, and gaining perspective. In the only program of its kind administered by an alumni association, Forty Acres Scholars develop a unique relationship with their alma mater and graduate with an extraordinary network of Longhorns standing behind them.    Scholarship funding provides for tuition, a living stipend, a book stipend, an enrichment stipend, and program activities.   Meet the finalists: Ashley Abrahams    Prosper High School  Prosper, Texas      Anjum Alam  Lone Star College System Houston, Texas      Anna Kate Albritton Highland Park High School  Dallas, Texas      Astrid Allen   Kinder High School for the Performing & Visual Arts   Houston, Texas      Myshae Allen   Central High School  San Angelo, Texas      Awas Amin   Carroll Senior High School    Southlake, Texas      Nnenna Anyadiegwu   Trinity Valley School   Fort Worth, Texas     Alison Beanblossom    New Trier High School   Winnetka, Illinois     Nicole Beres    Carroll Senior High School   Southlake, Texas      Peyton Bono   Highland Park High School    Dallas, Texas      Emma Corbell   Lone Star High School  Frisco, Texas      Blair Davis    St. John's School   Houston, Texas      Matthew Freel    Kingwood High School Kingwood, Texas      Rithvik Gabri   Cistercian Preparatory School   Irving, Texas      Catherin Guerra   Grulla High School  Rio Grande City, Texas      Rishi Hariharaprasad    Louis D. Brandeis High School   San Antonio, Texas     Alexander Hernandez     Energy Institute High School  Houston, Texas      Dabeluchi Isiofia    Veterans Memorial High School   Corpus Christi, Texas      Lindsey Karkowsky   The Kinkaid School   Houston, Texas      Lucy Katz    Episcopal High School   Houston, Texas      Sanjana Kavula   Emerson High School   McKinney, Texas     Rizwan Khan  Plano West Senior High School  Plano, Texas      Walton Kunu   The Village High School   Missouri City, Texas      Sophia Li   Greenhill School   Plano, Texas     Eshaan Mani   The Kinkaid School   Sugar Land, Texas   Varun Manickam   Bellaire Senior High School   Houston, Texas      Macy McAfee   Stratford High School   Houston, Texas      Anagha Menon   Seven Lakes High School   Katy, Texas     Aubrey Menz   Boerne High School   Boerne, Texas     Michael Murphy   St. John's School  Houston, Texas     Grace Nelson   Round Rock High School Round Rock, Texas     Michael O'Connor    Saint Viator High School   Arlington Heights, Illinois      Chioma Olorondu    George Ranch High School   Richmond, Texas      Eeshwar Parasuramuni    Frisco High School Frisco, Texas      Riley Pierce   The Altamont School   Vestavia, Alabama     Trinity Power    Frisco High School  Frisco, Texas      Rohan Ralli    Centennial High School   Frisco, Texas      Nikhil Reddy   Carroll Senior High School   Keller, Texas        Akhil Samavedam    Westlake High School   Austin, Texas      Sandeep Sethuraman   BASIS Chandler    Chandler, Arizona     Paisley Smith   Cedar Creek High School   Cedar Creek, Texas      Luke Sotelo    Antonian College Preparatory High School  San Antonio, Texas      Katie Szlauko    Allan Hancock College   Pismo Beach, California     Chiamaka Uwalaka   Carnegie Vanguard High School    Houston, Texas      Prisha Vithalani   Plano West Senior High School   Plano, Texas      Landon Von Minden   La Grange High School  La Grange, Texas      Zachary Wagner   Grassfield High School   Chesapeake, Virginia      Kai Weaver   Heights High School   Houston, Texas      Andy Wei   Stephen F. Austin High School   Sugar Land, Texas      Kyle Xu   Flour Bluff High School   Corpus Christi, Texas      Jeannette Yang   Greenhill School   Frisco, Texas      Kathleen Yu    Seven Lakes High School   Katy, Texas     

Forty Acres Scholars Program Class of 2028 Finalists

The Forty Acres Scholars Program is proud to announce the 52 finalists for the Class of 2028. Admissions invited around 1,300 students to apply. Out of the 850 applications received, 120 semifinalists were chosen to advance to a video interview.  This year’s finalists come from six U.S. states and have been admitted to eight different schools and colleges across the University. Many of them participate in nationally recognized organizations and competitions such as DECA and UIL. Many are also valedictorians, athletes, team captains, musicians, and student body presidents. Some are founders of nonprofits, school organizations, and online platforms; published authors; business owners; and researchers. They spend their time participating in countless hours of community service, leading clubs and organizations in their schools, and interning across the nation.   From February 29 to March 2, 2024, these exceptional high school students will join us on campus to participate in Finalist Weekend. Activities will include visits with their admitted colleges, a mock class with a UT professor, campus and college tours, panels with current Forty Acres Scholars, optional daily activities, and an individual interview.   The Forty Acres Scholars Program inspires and nurtures visionary leaders and helps them use their talents to benefit society. Our scholars demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a track record of outstanding academic success. Most importantly, they have passion and a desire to live out the core values of The University of Texas at Austin. The three tenets of the program are community, connection, and discovery. The program is a transformational adventure that helps individuals reach their full potential, and, alongside academic achievement, focuses on personal development, relationship building, and gaining perspective. In the only program of its kind administered by an alumni association, Forty Acres Scholars develop a unique relationship with their alma mater and graduate with an extraordinary network of Longhorns standing behind them.    Scholarship funding provides for tuition, a living stipend, a book stipend, an enrichment stipend, and program activities.   Meet the finalists: Ashley Abrahams    Prosper High School  Prosper, Texas      Anjum Alam  Lone Star College System Houston, Texas      Anna Kate Albritton Highland Park High School  Dallas, Texas      Astrid Allen   Kinder High School for the Performing & Visual Arts   Houston, Texas      Myshae Allen   Central High School  San Angelo, Texas      Awas Amin   Carroll Senior High School    Southlake, Texas      Nnenna Anyadiegwu   Trinity Valley School   Fort Worth, Texas     Alison Beanblossom    New Trier High School   Winnetka, Illinois     Nicole Beres    Carroll Senior High School   Southlake, Texas      Peyton Bono   Highland Park High School    Dallas, Texas      Emma Corbell   Lone Star High School  Frisco, Texas      Blair Davis    St. John's School   Houston, Texas      Matthew Freel    Kingwood High School Kingwood, Texas      Rithvik Gabri   Cistercian Preparatory School   Irving, Texas      Catherin Guerra   Grulla High School  Rio Grande City, Texas      Rishi Hariharaprasad    Louis D. Brandeis High School   San Antonio, Texas     Alexander Hernandez     Energy Institute High School  Houston, Texas      Dabeluchi Isiofia    Veterans Memorial High School   Corpus Christi, Texas      Lindsey Karkowsky   The Kinkaid School   Houston, Texas      Lucy Katz    Episcopal High School   Houston, Texas      Sanjana Kavula   Emerson High School   McKinney, Texas     Rizwan Khan  Plano West Senior High School  Plano, Texas      Walton Kunu   The Village High School   Missouri City, Texas      Sophia Li   Greenhill School   Plano, Texas     Eshaan Mani   The Kinkaid School   Sugar Land, Texas   Varun Manickam   Bellaire Senior High School   Houston, Texas      Macy McAfee   Stratford High School   Houston, Texas      Anagha Menon   Seven Lakes High School   Katy, Texas     Aubrey Menz   Boerne High School   Boerne, Texas     Michael Murphy   St. John's School  Houston, Texas     Grace Nelson   Round Rock High School Round Rock, Texas     Michael O'Connor    Saint Viator High School   Arlington Heights, Illinois      Chioma Olorondu    George Ranch High School   Richmond, Texas      Eeshwar Parasuramuni    Frisco High School Frisco, Texas      Riley Pierce   The Altamont School   Vestavia, Alabama     Trinity Power    Frisco High School  Frisco, Texas      Rohan Ralli    Centennial High School   Frisco, Texas      Nikhil Reddy   Carroll Senior High School   Keller, Texas        Akhil Samavedam    Westlake High School   Austin, Texas      Sandeep Sethuraman   BASIS Chandler    Chandler, Arizona     Paisley Smith   Cedar Creek High School   Cedar Creek, Texas      Luke Sotelo    Antonian College Preparatory High School  San Antonio, Texas      Katie Szlauko    Allan Hancock College   Pismo Beach, California     Chiamaka Uwalaka   Carnegie Vanguard High School    Houston, Texas      Prisha Vithalani   Plano West Senior High School   Plano, Texas      Landon Von Minden   La Grange High School  La Grange, Texas      Zachary Wagner   Grassfield High School   Chesapeake, Virginia      Kai Weaver   Heights High School   Houston, Texas      Andy Wei   Stephen F. Austin High School   Sugar Land, Texas      Kyle Xu   Flour Bluff High School   Corpus Christi, Texas      Jeannette Yang   Greenhill School   Frisco, Texas      Kathleen Yu    Seven Lakes High School   Katy, Texas