52 Students Selected as Finalists for Forty Acres Scholars Program

Fifty-two outstanding high school students have been selected as finalists for the fourth-ever class of Forty Acres Scholars. The finalists will be brought to Austin this week to learn about the campus and to interview for the Forty Acres Scholars Program, the premier full-ride, merit-based scholarship at the University of Texas at Austin. Among the group are National Merit Finalists, editors of their school newspapers and literary magazines, class presidents, drum majors, varsity athletes, a debate champion, and even a competitive country and western stunt dancer. Others are entrepreneurs, having started both for-profit and nonprofit businesses. And we have a composer, a songwriter, and a costume designer. We are thrilled to welcome them all to the Forty Acres. Here's an infographic overview of the students selected for the final round this week. Meet the Finalists: Abigail Aldea St. Mary's Episcopal School Germantown, TN Katherine Allen Ursuline Academy of Dallas Dallas, TX Advaith Anand Liberal Arts and Science Academy Austin, TX Emily Barnes Episcopal School of Dallas Dallas, TX Elijah Barrish Liberal Arts and Science Academy Austin, TX Andrew Bazley Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Dallas, TX Lucia Brunel Westlake High School Austin, TX Austin Burns St. Andrew's Episcopal School Austin, TX Samantha Canava Coronado High School El Paso, TX Daniel Chen Liberal Arts and Science Academy Austin, TX William Clutterbuck St. John's School Houston, TX Alexi Cortez Sharyland High School Mission, TX Collin Davda Trinity Valley School Fort Worth, TX Chandler Dean High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Houston, TX Jose-Roberto Delgado Cathedral High School El Paso, TX Akhil Ganti Cypress Falls High School Houston, TX Julia Goolsby McAllen High School McAllen, TX Madelaine Graber Home School The Woodlands, TX Abigail Griffin Francis Howell North High School Saint Charles, MO Alexis Hall Texas Tech University High School Dallas, TX Elizabeth Hamm Mililani High School Mililani, HI Sarah Jacobs James Madison High School San Antonio, TX Parth Kalaria Trinity Valley School Fort Worth, TX Nishtha Kapuria Oakridge School Arlington, TX Hannah Kelly Fort Worth Country Day School Fort Worth, TX Katherine Kennedy Stratford High School Houston, TX Christian Krueger New Braunfels Senior High School New Braunfels, TX Steffi Lee R.L. Turner High School Carrolton, TX Aasim Maknojia Clear Springs High School Friendswood, TX Bradley Mankoff St. Mark's School Dallas, TX Tucker Martin Plano East Senior High School Richardson, TX Miranda McClellan School for the Talented and Gifted Dallas, TX Kara Miller Seven Lakes High School Katy, TX Lauren Miller Claudia Taylor "Lady Bird" Johnson High School San Antonio, TX Katie Nesser R.L. Paschal High School Fort Worth, TX Jite Ovienmhada Timber Creek High School Fort Worth, TX Haley Parsa Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Dallas, TX Pooja Patel Robert E. Lee High School Midland, TX Mati Reed Harlandale High School San Antonio, TX Greyson Rubin Richardson High School Dallas, TX Jason Sanchez J.M. Hanks High School El Paso, TX Megan Silver The Hockaday School Dallas, TX David Slater Dripping Springs High School Austin, TX Daniel Smith Cathedral High School El Paso, TX Ben Stevenson La Vernia High School La Vernia, TX Lizzy Tan Mirabeau B. Lamar Senior High School Houston, TX Neil Tapiavala Trinity Valley School Fort Worth, TX Jack Terrell Whitehouse High School Whitehouse, TX Ashesh Trivedi Carroll Senior High School Southlake, TX Micky Wolf Winston Churchill High School San Antonio, TX Andrew Yang Northside Health Careers High School San Antonio, TX

52 Students Selected as Finalists for Forty Acres Scholars Program

Fifty-two outstanding high school students have been selected as finalists for the fourth-ever class of Forty Acres Scholars. The finalists will be brought to Austin this week to learn about the campus and to interview for the Forty Acres Scholars Program, the premier full-ride, merit-based scholarship at the University of Texas at Austin. Among the group are National Merit Finalists, editors of their school newspapers and literary magazines, class presidents, drum majors, varsity athletes, a debate champion, and even a competitive country and western stunt dancer. Others are entrepreneurs, having started both for-profit and nonprofit businesses. And we have a composer, a songwriter, and a costume designer. We are thrilled to welcome them all to the Forty Acres. Here's an infographic overview of the students selected for the final round this week. Meet the Finalists: Abigail Aldea St. Mary's Episcopal School Germantown, TN Katherine Allen Ursuline Academy of Dallas Dallas, TX Advaith Anand Liberal Arts and Science Academy Austin, TX Emily Barnes Episcopal School of Dallas Dallas, TX Elijah Barrish Liberal Arts and Science Academy Austin, TX Andrew Bazley Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Dallas, TX Lucia Brunel Westlake High School Austin, TX Austin Burns St. Andrew's Episcopal School Austin, TX Samantha Canava Coronado High School El Paso, TX Daniel Chen Liberal Arts and Science Academy Austin, TX William Clutterbuck St. John's School Houston, TX Alexi Cortez Sharyland High School Mission, TX Collin Davda Trinity Valley School Fort Worth, TX Chandler Dean High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Houston, TX Jose-Roberto Delgado Cathedral High School El Paso, TX Akhil Ganti Cypress Falls High School Houston, TX Julia Goolsby McAllen High School McAllen, TX Madelaine Graber Home School The Woodlands, TX Abigail Griffin Francis Howell North High School Saint Charles, MO Alexis Hall Texas Tech University High School Dallas, TX Elizabeth Hamm Mililani High School Mililani, HI Sarah Jacobs James Madison High School San Antonio, TX Parth Kalaria Trinity Valley School Fort Worth, TX Nishtha Kapuria Oakridge School Arlington, TX Hannah Kelly Fort Worth Country Day School Fort Worth, TX Katherine Kennedy Stratford High School Houston, TX Christian Krueger New Braunfels Senior High School New Braunfels, TX Steffi Lee R.L. Turner High School Carrolton, TX Aasim Maknojia Clear Springs High School Friendswood, TX Bradley Mankoff St. Mark's School Dallas, TX Tucker Martin Plano East Senior High School Richardson, TX Miranda McClellan School for the Talented and Gifted Dallas, TX Kara Miller Seven Lakes High School Katy, TX Lauren Miller Claudia Taylor "Lady Bird" Johnson High School San Antonio, TX Katie Nesser R.L. Paschal High School Fort Worth, TX Jite Ovienmhada Timber Creek High School Fort Worth, TX Haley Parsa Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Dallas, TX Pooja Patel Robert E. Lee High School Midland, TX Mati Reed Harlandale High School San Antonio, TX Greyson Rubin Richardson High School Dallas, TX Jason Sanchez J.M. Hanks High School El Paso, TX Megan Silver The Hockaday School Dallas, TX David Slater Dripping Springs High School Austin, TX Daniel Smith Cathedral High School El Paso, TX Ben Stevenson La Vernia High School La Vernia, TX Lizzy Tan Mirabeau B. Lamar Senior High School Houston, TX Neil Tapiavala Trinity Valley School Fort Worth, TX Jack Terrell Whitehouse High School Whitehouse, TX Ashesh Trivedi Carroll Senior High School Southlake, TX Micky Wolf Winston Churchill High School San Antonio, TX Andrew Yang Northside Health Careers High School San Antonio, TX

Why I Give: Carlos Zaffirini Jr.

Carlos Zaffirini Jr., BBA ’03, JD ’06, Life Member, recently endowed a Texas Exes scholarship in honor of his mother, Sen. Judith Zaffirini, BS ’67, MA ’70, PhD ’78, Life Member, Distinguished Alumna. In a post that first appeared on his LinkedIn page, Carlos tells his family's story and shares why he chose to give back. In so many ways, my mother’s story is the story of South Texas: Judy Pappas grew up in Laredo without even thinking of going to college. When she was a high school senior, her boyfriend, who earlier had motivated her to become an A student, encouraged her to go to college. Her parents couldn’t afford to pay for her new dream of a first-class higher education, but her father said that if she paid her way, she could go wherever she wanted. The 17-year-old enrolled in summer classes at Laredo Junior College and secured financial aid and part-time jobs to enroll at the University of Houston as a freshman. At 18 she dropped out and married her 21-year-old boyfriend two days after he secured his degree from Tulane University. The totally self-supporting newlyweds hoped to enroll at the University of Texas at Austin, but faced severe financial limitations. One day they ran into their state representative, the late Honore Ligarde, and told him about their situation. With one telephone call he secured a National Defense Student Loan for her, enabling both of them to enroll at UT in the fall. My father, Carlos Zaffirini Sr., earned his law degree there, and my mother, now Senator Judith Zaffirini, earned her BS, MA, and PhD there—each with a 3.9 GPA, while married and holding as many as three part-time jobs. At one point she was a full-time doctoral student in Austin while working full-time in Laredo, where my father began his law practice. The economic challenges they faced and the burdens they endured in pursuing their degrees are the foundation from which my mother became a champion for higher education opportunities for all Texans, especially her constituents. With this goal at the top of her legislative agenda, she served as chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee and as co-chair and co-vice chair of the Legislative Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency. She has passed and sponsored important legislation and secured and sought increased funding for colleges and universities statewide, particularly through tuition revenue bonds and financial aid. Unquestionably, she is higher education’s best friend in the Texas Legislature. Having grown up as a witness to her passion and zeal for ensuring her constituents enjoy equal opportunities for excellence in higher education, I embraced her dream: first, by completed a business degree and law degree at UT-Austin before starting my own business, and, second, by helping South Texans realize their goals of completing degrees at first-class institutions. That is why I worked with the Texas Exes to establish the Senator Judith Zaffirini Scholarship with an initial endowment of $100,000 at UT-Austin and a pledge to increase it. A similar endowed scholarship will be announced soon at the Baylor College of Medicine, and both will benefit low-income South Texas students. The Beaumont Foundation also endowed a $100,000 scholarship at Texas A&M International University in Laredo in the name of Senator Judith and Carlos Zaffirini Sr. Why the commitment? As a family we are committed to inspiring and empowering South Texas students to pursue their higher education and to ensure a better future for themselves, their families, our communities, and our state. We realize that the key to building the poorest region of our state is access to affordable and excellent higher education. My mother’s story is a constant reminder of how one person can be motivated, encouraged, and assisted in the pursuit of dreaming high—and then turn around and make an even greater difference for countless Texans who will reap the benefits of her leadership in the Texas Senate. To honor her service and to further her goals of opening doors for the next generation, I am proud to endow the Senator Judith Zaffirini Scholarships for South Texas students. My hope is that recipients, in turn, will prepare themselves eventually to do even more to blaze trails for the generations that will follow them. Photo by Matt Valentine.

Why I Give: Carlos Zaffirini Jr.

Carlos Zaffirini Jr., BBA ’03, JD ’06, Life Member, recently endowed a Texas Exes scholarship in honor of his mother, Sen. Judith Zaffirini, BS ’67, MA ’70, PhD ’78, Life Member, Distinguished Alumna. In a post that first appeared on his LinkedIn page, Carlos tells his family's story and shares why he chose to give back. In so many ways, my mother’s story is the story of South Texas: Judy Pappas grew up in Laredo without even thinking of going to college. When she was a high school senior, her boyfriend, who earlier had motivated her to become an A student, encouraged her to go to college. Her parents couldn’t afford to pay for her new dream of a first-class higher education, but her father said that if she paid her way, she could go wherever she wanted. The 17-year-old enrolled in summer classes at Laredo Junior College and secured financial aid and part-time jobs to enroll at the University of Houston as a freshman. At 18 she dropped out and married her 21-year-old boyfriend two days after he secured his degree from Tulane University. The totally self-supporting newlyweds hoped to enroll at the University of Texas at Austin, but faced severe financial limitations. One day they ran into their state representative, the late Honore Ligarde, and told him about their situation. With one telephone call he secured a National Defense Student Loan for her, enabling both of them to enroll at UT in the fall. My father, Carlos Zaffirini Sr., earned his law degree there, and my mother, now Senator Judith Zaffirini, earned her BS, MA, and PhD there—each with a 3.9 GPA, while married and holding as many as three part-time jobs. At one point she was a full-time doctoral student in Austin while working full-time in Laredo, where my father began his law practice. The economic challenges they faced and the burdens they endured in pursuing their degrees are the foundation from which my mother became a champion for higher education opportunities for all Texans, especially her constituents. With this goal at the top of her legislative agenda, she served as chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee and as co-chair and co-vice chair of the Legislative Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency. She has passed and sponsored important legislation and secured and sought increased funding for colleges and universities statewide, particularly through tuition revenue bonds and financial aid. Unquestionably, she is higher education’s best friend in the Texas Legislature. Having grown up as a witness to her passion and zeal for ensuring her constituents enjoy equal opportunities for excellence in higher education, I embraced her dream: first, by completed a business degree and law degree at UT-Austin before starting my own business, and, second, by helping South Texans realize their goals of completing degrees at first-class institutions. That is why I worked with the Texas Exes to establish the Senator Judith Zaffirini Scholarship with an initial endowment of $100,000 at UT-Austin and a pledge to increase it. A similar endowed scholarship will be announced soon at the Baylor College of Medicine, and both will benefit low-income South Texas students. The Beaumont Foundation also endowed a $100,000 scholarship at Texas A&M International University in Laredo in the name of Senator Judith and Carlos Zaffirini Sr. Why the commitment? As a family we are committed to inspiring and empowering South Texas students to pursue their higher education and to ensure a better future for themselves, their families, our communities, and our state. We realize that the key to building the poorest region of our state is access to affordable and excellent higher education. My mother’s story is a constant reminder of how one person can be motivated, encouraged, and assisted in the pursuit of dreaming high—and then turn around and make an even greater difference for countless Texans who will reap the benefits of her leadership in the Texas Senate. To honor her service and to further her goals of opening doors for the next generation, I am proud to endow the Senator Judith Zaffirini Scholarships for South Texas students. My hope is that recipients, in turn, will prepare themselves eventually to do even more to blaze trails for the generations that will follow them. Photo by Matt Valentine.

Why I Give: Carlos Zaffirini Jr.

Carlos Zaffirini Jr., BBA ’03, JD ’06, Life Member, recently endowed a Texas Exes scholarship in honor of his mother, Sen. Judith Zaffirini, BS ’67, MA ’70, PhD ’78, Life Member, Distinguished Alumna. In a post that first appeared on his LinkedIn page, Carlos tells his family's story and shares why he chose to give back. In so many ways, my mother’s story is the story of South Texas: Judy Pappas grew up in Laredo without even thinking of going to college. When she was a high school senior, her boyfriend, who earlier had motivated her to become an A student, encouraged her to go to college. Her parents couldn’t afford to pay for her new dream of a first-class higher education, but her father said that if she paid her way, she could go wherever she wanted. The 17-year-old enrolled in summer classes at Laredo Junior College and secured financial aid and part-time jobs to enroll at the University of Houston as a freshman. At 18 she dropped out and married her 21-year-old boyfriend two days after he secured his degree from Tulane University. The totally self-supporting newlyweds hoped to enroll at the University of Texas at Austin, but faced severe financial limitations. One day they ran into their state representative, the late Honore Ligarde, and told him about their situation. With one telephone call he secured a National Defense Student Loan for her, enabling both of them to enroll at UT in the fall. My father, Carlos Zaffirini Sr., earned his law degree there, and my mother, now Senator Judith Zaffirini, earned her BS, MA, and PhD there—each with a 3.9 GPA, while married and holding as many as three part-time jobs. At one point she was a full-time doctoral student in Austin while working full-time in Laredo, where my father began his law practice. The economic challenges they faced and the burdens they endured in pursuing their degrees are the foundation from which my mother became a champion for higher education opportunities for all Texans, especially her constituents. With this goal at the top of her legislative agenda, she served as chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee and as co-chair and co-vice chair of the Legislative Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence, and Transparency. She has passed and sponsored important legislation and secured and sought increased funding for colleges and universities statewide, particularly through tuition revenue bonds and financial aid. Unquestionably, she is higher education’s best friend in the Texas Legislature. Having grown up as a witness to her passion and zeal for ensuring her constituents enjoy equal opportunities for excellence in higher education, I embraced her dream: first, by completed a business degree and law degree at UT-Austin before starting my own business, and, second, by helping South Texans realize their goals of completing degrees at first-class institutions. That is why I worked with the Texas Exes to establish the Senator Judith Zaffirini Scholarship with an initial endowment of $100,000 at UT-Austin and a pledge to increase it. A similar endowed scholarship will be announced soon at the Baylor College of Medicine, and both will benefit low-income South Texas students. The Beaumont Foundation also endowed a $100,000 scholarship at Texas A&M International University in Laredo in the name of Senator Judith and Carlos Zaffirini Sr. Why the commitment? As a family we are committed to inspiring and empowering South Texas students to pursue their higher education and to ensure a better future for themselves, their families, our communities, and our state. We realize that the key to building the poorest region of our state is access to affordable and excellent higher education. My mother’s story is a constant reminder of how one person can be motivated, encouraged, and assisted in the pursuit of dreaming high—and then turn around and make an even greater difference for countless Texans who will reap the benefits of her leadership in the Texas Senate. To honor her service and to further her goals of opening doors for the next generation, I am proud to endow the Senator Judith Zaffirini Scholarships for South Texas students. My hope is that recipients, in turn, will prepare themselves eventually to do even more to blaze trails for the generations that will follow them. Photo by Matt Valentine.

What I Learned at Winedale: Connor Healy

College transforms you in ways you can't predict. In this essay, Forty Acres scholar Connor Healy reflects on his time with the UT Shakespeare at Winedale program. The air at Winedale buzzes with Shakespeare. The wind hums soliloquies. The leaves dance to the rhythm of the verse. Shakespeare’s text has been spoken into the space for over 30 years, and the trees and the ground have absorbed those words, those breaths. Shakespeare at Winedale’s Summer 2013 program began before we breathed that electric air, before we laid our feet on that sacred soil. In the weeks leading up to our departure for Winedale, we read and discussed the four plays we would produce: The Comedy of Errors, King Henry IV, Part I, The Tempest, and Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus (this summer was, in fact, the first time a Marlowe play had been produced at Winedale). We had to memorize all our lines in those preceding weeks, allowing us to begin playing immediately when we got to Winedale and also forcing us to spend time with our characters and begin to develop a relationship with them. The first four weeks at Winedale were an exhilarating whirlwind. One play per week. Beginning on Sunday, we would work on a play for 10-12 hours per day: running scenes, making costumes and props, choreographing fights, analyzing text and characters. Our work culminated each week with a performance for Winedale alumni on Saturday evening. Winedale’s church, its temple, is the barn. The barn was our play space for our nine weeks out there. I first noticed its smell: earthy, damp, musky, ancient yet fresh, rich with stories and life. In it we learned, we grew, we explored, we questioned, we provoked and were provoked, challenged and were challenged. The barn is the nucleus of Winedale, the site of genesis and epiphany. After the first four weeks, we had a week and a half to further prepare our plays before four weeks of public performances began. These performance weeks were exhausting yet indescribably rewarding. Tuesday and Wednesday were days to continue developing the plays, including working trouble scenes, solidifying lines, adding props, and adjusting costumes. Thursday and Friday evenings saw one performance each, and Saturday and Sunday each had a matinee and an evening performance. We played six performances per week, for a total of 24 public performances at Winedale. Monday was a much-needed and well-earned day off where we were free to do as we pleased: some would go to Chili’s or Wal-Mart, others would see a movie or drive 45 minutes for enchiladas and fish bowl margaritas. Most Monday evenings we watched the sun set. We read poems, we told stories; we shared. I played Caliban in The Tempest. He was my largest role, and I spent by far the most time with him. I dived deep into both the text and myself to find his body, his voice, how he moved and walked and danced. The first time I cried at Winedale was when I fully, wholly, radically empathized with Caliban. “And then I lov’d thee.” When I played him, I surrendered my heart to him, and he occupied my soul and my body. I became him, or he became me, or we became one. Two weeks of touring followed our departure from Winedale. We first performed Comedy in Dallas, then Tempest and Henry IV at UT. Our summer ended with a trip to Staunton, Va., where we performed Doctor Faustus at the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse. I regret to leave out many salient parts that constitute the Winedale experience: playing volleyball, singing before meals, sweeping the barn. The things I carry with me from Winedale, however, are those that I will carry for a lifetime. I leave, first, with a family, a group of people with whom I share an inexpressible bond. I also leave with a singular love and appreciation for Shakespeare, a love that has seeped within in me and saturated my bones. Winedale is a place of magic. The birds know. For all these years, the same dirt has held our bodies from floating away into the vast emptiness, the same trees have watched and heard us playing, all the “To be”s and “Never, never”s and “Tomorrow, and”s have been spoken with the same air. It was revelatory and transformative to breathe that air. Shakespeare entered my lungs and filled me, radiating through my every cell. He will forever remain in my breath. Photo courtesy Connor Healy.

What I Learned at Winedale: Connor Healy

College transforms you in ways you can't predict. In this essay, Forty Acres scholar Connor Healy reflects on his time with the UT Shakespeare at Winedale program. The air at Winedale buzzes with Shakespeare. The wind hums soliloquies. The leaves dance to the rhythm of the verse. Shakespeare’s text has been spoken into the space for over 30 years, and the trees and the ground have absorbed those words, those breaths. Shakespeare at Winedale’s Summer 2013 program began before we breathed that electric air, before we laid our feet on that sacred soil. In the weeks leading up to our departure for Winedale, we read and discussed the four plays we would produce: The Comedy of Errors, King Henry IV, Part I, The Tempest, and Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus (this summer was, in fact, the first time a Marlowe play had been produced at Winedale). We had to memorize all our lines in those preceding weeks, allowing us to begin playing immediately when we got to Winedale and also forcing us to spend time with our characters and begin to develop a relationship with them. The first four weeks at Winedale were an exhilarating whirlwind. One play per week. Beginning on Sunday, we would work on a play for 10-12 hours per day: running scenes, making costumes and props, choreographing fights, analyzing text and characters. Our work culminated each week with a performance for Winedale alumni on Saturday evening. Winedale’s church, its temple, is the barn. The barn was our play space for our nine weeks out there. I first noticed its smell: earthy, damp, musky, ancient yet fresh, rich with stories and life. In it we learned, we grew, we explored, we questioned, we provoked and were provoked, challenged and were challenged. The barn is the nucleus of Winedale, the site of genesis and epiphany. After the first four weeks, we had a week and a half to further prepare our plays before four weeks of public performances began. These performance weeks were exhausting yet indescribably rewarding. Tuesday and Wednesday were days to continue developing the plays, including working trouble scenes, solidifying lines, adding props, and adjusting costumes. Thursday and Friday evenings saw one performance each, and Saturday and Sunday each had a matinee and an evening performance. We played six performances per week, for a total of 24 public performances at Winedale. Monday was a much-needed and well-earned day off where we were free to do as we pleased: some would go to Chili’s or Wal-Mart, others would see a movie or drive 45 minutes for enchiladas and fish bowl margaritas. Most Monday evenings we watched the sun set. We read poems, we told stories; we shared. I played Caliban in The Tempest. He was my largest role, and I spent by far the most time with him. I dived deep into both the text and myself to find his body, his voice, how he moved and walked and danced. The first time I cried at Winedale was when I fully, wholly, radically empathized with Caliban. “And then I lov’d thee.” When I played him, I surrendered my heart to him, and he occupied my soul and my body. I became him, or he became me, or we became one. Two weeks of touring followed our departure from Winedale. We first performed Comedy in Dallas, then Tempest and Henry IV at UT. Our summer ended with a trip to Staunton, Va., where we performed Doctor Faustus at the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse. I regret to leave out many salient parts that constitute the Winedale experience: playing volleyball, singing before meals, sweeping the barn. The things I carry with me from Winedale, however, are those that I will carry for a lifetime. I leave, first, with a family, a group of people with whom I share an inexpressible bond. I also leave with a singular love and appreciation for Shakespeare, a love that has seeped within in me and saturated my bones. Winedale is a place of magic. The birds know. For all these years, the same dirt has held our bodies from floating away into the vast emptiness, the same trees have watched and heard us playing, all the “To be”s and “Never, never”s and “Tomorrow, and”s have been spoken with the same air. It was revelatory and transformative to breathe that air. Shakespeare entered my lungs and filled me, radiating through my every cell. He will forever remain in my breath. Photo courtesy Connor Healy.

What I Learned at Winedale: Connor Healy

College transforms you in ways you can't predict. In this essay, Forty Acres scholar Connor Healy reflects on his time with the UT Shakespeare at Winedale program. The air at Winedale buzzes with Shakespeare. The wind hums soliloquies. The leaves dance to the rhythm of the verse. Shakespeare’s text has been spoken into the space for over 30 years, and the trees and the ground have absorbed those words, those breaths. Shakespeare at Winedale’s Summer 2013 program began before we breathed that electric air, before we laid our feet on that sacred soil. In the weeks leading up to our departure for Winedale, we read and discussed the four plays we would produce: The Comedy of Errors, King Henry IV, Part I, The Tempest, and Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus (this summer was, in fact, the first time a Marlowe play had been produced at Winedale). We had to memorize all our lines in those preceding weeks, allowing us to begin playing immediately when we got to Winedale and also forcing us to spend time with our characters and begin to develop a relationship with them. The first four weeks at Winedale were an exhilarating whirlwind. One play per week. Beginning on Sunday, we would work on a play for 10-12 hours per day: running scenes, making costumes and props, choreographing fights, analyzing text and characters. Our work culminated each week with a performance for Winedale alumni on Saturday evening. Winedale’s church, its temple, is the barn. The barn was our play space for our nine weeks out there. I first noticed its smell: earthy, damp, musky, ancient yet fresh, rich with stories and life. In it we learned, we grew, we explored, we questioned, we provoked and were provoked, challenged and were challenged. The barn is the nucleus of Winedale, the site of genesis and epiphany. After the first four weeks, we had a week and a half to further prepare our plays before four weeks of public performances began. These performance weeks were exhausting yet indescribably rewarding. Tuesday and Wednesday were days to continue developing the plays, including working trouble scenes, solidifying lines, adding props, and adjusting costumes. Thursday and Friday evenings saw one performance each, and Saturday and Sunday each had a matinee and an evening performance. We played six performances per week, for a total of 24 public performances at Winedale. Monday was a much-needed and well-earned day off where we were free to do as we pleased: some would go to Chili’s or Wal-Mart, others would see a movie or drive 45 minutes for enchiladas and fish bowl margaritas. Most Monday evenings we watched the sun set. We read poems, we told stories; we shared. I played Caliban in The Tempest. He was my largest role, and I spent by far the most time with him. I dived deep into both the text and myself to find his body, his voice, how he moved and walked and danced. The first time I cried at Winedale was when I fully, wholly, radically empathized with Caliban. “And then I lov’d thee.” When I played him, I surrendered my heart to him, and he occupied my soul and my body. I became him, or he became me, or we became one. Two weeks of touring followed our departure from Winedale. We first performed Comedy in Dallas, then Tempest and Henry IV at UT. Our summer ended with a trip to Staunton, Va., where we performed Doctor Faustus at the American Shakespeare Center’s Blackfriars Playhouse. I regret to leave out many salient parts that constitute the Winedale experience: playing volleyball, singing before meals, sweeping the barn. The things I carry with me from Winedale, however, are those that I will carry for a lifetime. I leave, first, with a family, a group of people with whom I share an inexpressible bond. I also leave with a singular love and appreciation for Shakespeare, a love that has seeped within in me and saturated my bones. Winedale is a place of magic. The birds know. For all these years, the same dirt has held our bodies from floating away into the vast emptiness, the same trees have watched and heard us playing, all the “To be”s and “Never, never”s and “Tomorrow, and”s have been spoken with the same air. It was revelatory and transformative to breathe that air. Shakespeare entered my lungs and filled me, radiating through my every cell. He will forever remain in my breath. Photo courtesy Connor Healy.

Zaffirini Completes Funding for Scholarship Honoring His Mom

Beginning next school year, a UT education will be made possible for a bright, young student from the Rio Grande Valley due to the ambitious efforts of Carlos Zaffirini Jr., BBA ’03, JD ’06, Life Member. Carlos Jr., founder of Adelanto HealthCare Ventures, has donated an additional $25,000 to complete funding for the $50,000 endowment he pledged in honor of his mother’s commitment to higher education in 2012. Senator Judith Zaffirini , BS ’67, MA ’70, PhD ’78, Life Member, Distinguished Alumna, championed higher education during her time as the chair of the Texas Senate’s Higher Education Committee and overcame adversities while pursuing her own education at UT. Despite maintaining a 3.9 GPA, Judith considered dropping out due to financial strains. She hopes to prevent other hopeful students from experiencing the same problem. “This scholarship was created to honor my mom and her dedication to students that don’t have the resources to attend college,” Carlos said. During the endowment ceremony in 2012, Judith said she was both impressed and grateful. Carlos has since given her another reason to be proud. Funding for the Senator Judith Zaffirini Scholarship Fund has been fulfilled two years early, as it was originally slated for 2016, with the scholarship's inaugural recipient to be announced next year. Photo by Matt Valentine.

Zaffirini Completes Funding for Scholarship Honoring His Mom

Beginning next school year, a UT education will be made possible for a bright, young student from the Rio Grande Valley due to the ambitious efforts of Carlos Zaffirini Jr., BBA ’03, JD ’06, Life Member. Carlos Jr., founder of Adelanto HealthCare Ventures, has donated an additional $25,000 to complete funding for the $50,000 endowment he pledged in honor of his mother’s commitment to higher education in 2012. Senator Judith Zaffirini , BS ’67, MA ’70, PhD ’78, Life Member, Distinguished Alumna, championed higher education during her time as the chair of the Texas Senate’s Higher Education Committee and overcame adversities while pursuing her own education at UT. Despite maintaining a 3.9 GPA, Judith considered dropping out due to financial strains. She hopes to prevent other hopeful students from experiencing the same problem. “This scholarship was created to honor my mom and her dedication to students that don’t have the resources to attend college,” Carlos said. During the endowment ceremony in 2012, Judith said she was both impressed and grateful. Carlos has since given her another reason to be proud. Funding for the Senator Judith Zaffirini Scholarship Fund has been fulfilled two years early, as it was originally slated for 2016, with the scholarship's inaugural recipient to be announced next year. Photo by Matt Valentine.

Zaffirini Completes Funding for Scholarship Honoring His Mom

Beginning next school year, a UT education will be made possible for a bright, young student from the Rio Grande Valley due to the ambitious efforts of Carlos Zaffirini Jr., BBA ’03, JD ’06, Life Member. Carlos Jr., founder of Adelanto HealthCare Ventures, has donated an additional $25,000 to complete funding for the $50,000 endowment he pledged in honor of his mother’s commitment to higher education in 2012. Senator Judith Zaffirini , BS ’67, MA ’70, PhD ’78, Life Member, Distinguished Alumna, championed higher education during her time as the chair of the Texas Senate’s Higher Education Committee and overcame adversities while pursuing her own education at UT. Despite maintaining a 3.9 GPA, Judith considered dropping out due to financial strains. She hopes to prevent other hopeful students from experiencing the same problem. “This scholarship was created to honor my mom and her dedication to students that don’t have the resources to attend college,” Carlos said. During the endowment ceremony in 2012, Judith said she was both impressed and grateful. Carlos has since given her another reason to be proud. Funding for the Senator Judith Zaffirini Scholarship Fund has been fulfilled two years early, as it was originally slated for 2016, with the scholarship's inaugural recipient to be announced next year. Photo by Matt Valentine.

Dallas Chapter Celebrates 25 Years of Scholarships [Watch]

The Texas Exes Dallas Chapter's scholarship program has been making Longhorns’ dreams come true for the past 25 years. More than 425 students have received nearly $1.5 million in scholarship money from the program. And the chapter's VP of scholarships, Chris Hardesty, BBA ’08, says they’re only getting started. “Through the tremendous amount of growth we’ve had,” Hardesty says, “you can see how important UT is not only to students and faculty, but also to alumni.” When the program was first established, it received about 50 to 60 applications per year. Nearly three decades later, that number has skyrocketed—the chapter reviews an an average of 500 applications yearly. The increase in applicants has also upped the number of scholarship evaluators from 10 to 45 people. “We used to be really localized when we started out,” Hardesty says. “Now scholarship applications are standardized globally across all Texas Exes chapters.” Both one-time and multi-year awards are made possible by endowments. Some scholarships go to students with unique situations, such as first-generation college students or members of underrepresented groups. The awards typically range from $2,000-$10,000. And then there's the chapter's support of the Forty Acres Scholars Program, the Texas Exes' elite merit-based full-ride that gets students to turn down the likes of Harvard to enroll at UT. The chapter has already funded one $500,000 Forty Acres scholarship and is halfway to creating the second. The program’s financial success is largely dependent on its generous donors, says Hardesty. “One thing we like to do is make a video capturing the life-changing impact of what our program does,” he says. “It’s a great way to share our message in a quick four minutes.” These scholarships don't go to just anyone. Not only are applicants scored on their academics and extracurricular involvement—they must also exhibit the same spirit for the University as any true Longhorn would. “One of the things I love about UT is the passion for the school and the network. I hope recipients understand how great of an opportunity it is to attend The University of Texas,” Hardesty says. “These scholarships embody the passion and the spirit UT-Austin has as a whole.” Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/5p_B6qa-wJI

Dallas Chapter Celebrates 25 Years of Scholarships [Watch]

The Texas Exes Dallas Chapter's scholarship program has been making Longhorns’ dreams come true for the past 25 years. More than 425 students have received nearly $1.5 million in scholarship money from the program. And the chapter's VP of scholarships, Chris Hardesty, BBA ’08, says they’re only getting started. “Through the tremendous amount of growth we’ve had,” Hardesty says, “you can see how important UT is not only to students and faculty, but also to alumni.” When the program was first established, it received about 50 to 60 applications per year. Nearly three decades later, that number has skyrocketed—the chapter reviews an an average of 500 applications yearly. The increase in applicants has also upped the number of scholarship evaluators from 10 to 45 people. “We used to be really localized when we started out,” Hardesty says. “Now scholarship applications are standardized globally across all Texas Exes chapters.” Both one-time and multi-year awards are made possible by endowments. Some scholarships go to students with unique situations, such as first-generation college students or members of underrepresented groups. The awards typically range from $2,000-$10,000. And then there's the chapter's support of the Forty Acres Scholars Program, the Texas Exes' elite merit-based full-ride that gets students to turn down the likes of Harvard to enroll at UT. The chapter has already funded one $500,000 Forty Acres scholarship and is halfway to creating the second. The program’s financial success is largely dependent on its generous donors, says Hardesty. “One thing we like to do is make a video capturing the life-changing impact of what our program does,” he says. “It’s a great way to share our message in a quick four minutes.” These scholarships don't go to just anyone. Not only are applicants scored on their academics and extracurricular involvement—they must also exhibit the same spirit for the University as any true Longhorn would. “One of the things I love about UT is the passion for the school and the network. I hope recipients understand how great of an opportunity it is to attend The University of Texas,” Hardesty says. “These scholarships embody the passion and the spirit UT-Austin has as a whole.” Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/5p_B6qa-wJI

Dallas Chapter Celebrates 25 Years of Scholarships [Watch]

The Texas Exes Dallas Chapter's scholarship program has been making Longhorns’ dreams come true for the past 25 years. More than 425 students have received nearly $1.5 million in scholarship money from the program. And the chapter's VP of scholarships, Chris Hardesty, BBA ’08, says they’re only getting started. “Through the tremendous amount of growth we’ve had,” Hardesty says, “you can see how important UT is not only to students and faculty, but also to alumni.” When the program was first established, it received about 50 to 60 applications per year. Nearly three decades later, that number has skyrocketed—the chapter reviews an an average of 500 applications yearly. The increase in applicants has also upped the number of scholarship evaluators from 10 to 45 people. “We used to be really localized when we started out,” Hardesty says. “Now scholarship applications are standardized globally across all Texas Exes chapters.” Both one-time and multi-year awards are made possible by endowments. Some scholarships go to students with unique situations, such as first-generation college students or members of underrepresented groups. The awards typically range from $2,000-$10,000. And then there's the chapter's support of the Forty Acres Scholars Program, the Texas Exes' elite merit-based full-ride that gets students to turn down the likes of Harvard to enroll at UT. The chapter has already funded one $500,000 Forty Acres scholarship and is halfway to creating the second. The program’s financial success is largely dependent on its generous donors, says Hardesty. “One thing we like to do is make a video capturing the life-changing impact of what our program does,” he says. “It’s a great way to share our message in a quick four minutes.” These scholarships don't go to just anyone. Not only are applicants scored on their academics and extracurricular involvement—they must also exhibit the same spirit for the University as any true Longhorn would. “One of the things I love about UT is the passion for the school and the network. I hope recipients understand how great of an opportunity it is to attend The University of Texas,” Hardesty says. “These scholarships embody the passion and the spirit UT-Austin has as a whole.” Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/5p_B6qa-wJI

Real-World Advice: Consulting Firm Connects With Forty Acres Scholars

Being a Forty Acres Scholar comes with some unique perks. Case in point: the chance to get an inside look into the world of consulting. During an informal lunch last week at the Alumni Center, alumni working at top consulting management firm McKinsey & Company spoke with scholars about the wide range of opportunities in consulting. Friday's lunch is just one of the many events that the scholars have the privilege to attend, including leadership, cultural, and community service programs. This is the first event that the Forty Acres Scholars Program has invited a company to interact with the scholars in such a relaxed setting and make one-on-one professional connections. Saheb Sabharwal, BAr ’11, a speaker from McKinsey & Company, said he enjoyed the dynamics of a smaller setting over a big presentation and hopes that scholars will now be more open to exploring career paths that make sense to them. "I hope that they will be excited about consulting and about McKinsey, and see that there is more to the world than the usual corporate job," Sabharwal says. "Consulting is just one thing, there are so many things out there." He also liked that the event allowed younger students to gain access to different career paths early on in their education. "Looking back, I only found out about [consulting opportunities] when I was a junior or a senior in college, which I think was a little too late," Sabharwal says. "Actually getting to know all this so early and getting a view of the world is remarkable." Katie Mark, a sophomore Forty Acres Scholar studying architecture and architectural engineering, says that she wasn't previously considering a career in consulting, but that the talk changed her mind. "It was really cool to hear about their experiences on such a personal level," Mark says. "Hearing about their projects and what they loved and didn't like about it gave me a better sense of what the real world will be like. This is an incredible opportunity." Illustration by Ashley Solano

Real-World Advice: Consulting Firm Connects With Forty Acres Scholars

Being a Forty Acres Scholar comes with some unique perks. Case in point: the chance to get an inside look into the world of consulting. During an informal lunch last week at the Alumni Center, alumni working at top consulting management firm McKinsey & Company spoke with scholars about the wide range of opportunities in consulting. Friday's lunch is just one of the many events that the scholars have the privilege to attend, including leadership, cultural, and community service programs. This is the first event that the Forty Acres Scholars Program has invited a company to interact with the scholars in such a relaxed setting and make one-on-one professional connections. Saheb Sabharwal, BAr ’11, a speaker from McKinsey & Company, said he enjoyed the dynamics of a smaller setting over a big presentation and hopes that scholars will now be more open to exploring career paths that make sense to them. "I hope that they will be excited about consulting and about McKinsey, and see that there is more to the world than the usual corporate job," Sabharwal says. "Consulting is just one thing, there are so many things out there." He also liked that the event allowed younger students to gain access to different career paths early on in their education. "Looking back, I only found out about [consulting opportunities] when I was a junior or a senior in college, which I think was a little too late," Sabharwal says. "Actually getting to know all this so early and getting a view of the world is remarkable." Katie Mark, a sophomore Forty Acres Scholar studying architecture and architectural engineering, says that she wasn't previously considering a career in consulting, but that the talk changed her mind. "It was really cool to hear about their experiences on such a personal level," Mark says. "Hearing about their projects and what they loved and didn't like about it gave me a better sense of what the real world will be like. This is an incredible opportunity." Illustration by Ashley Solano

Real-World Advice: Consulting Firm Connects With Forty Acres Scholars

Being a Forty Acres Scholar comes with some unique perks. Case in point: the chance to get an inside look into the world of consulting. During an informal lunch last week at the Alumni Center, alumni working at top consulting management firm McKinsey & Company spoke with scholars about the wide range of opportunities in consulting. Friday's lunch is just one of the many events that the scholars have the privilege to attend, including leadership, cultural, and community service programs. This is the first event that the Forty Acres Scholars Program has invited a company to interact with the scholars in such a relaxed setting and make one-on-one professional connections. Saheb Sabharwal, BAr ’11, a speaker from McKinsey & Company, said he enjoyed the dynamics of a smaller setting over a big presentation and hopes that scholars will now be more open to exploring career paths that make sense to them. "I hope that they will be excited about consulting and about McKinsey, and see that there is more to the world than the usual corporate job," Sabharwal says. "Consulting is just one thing, there are so many things out there." He also liked that the event allowed younger students to gain access to different career paths early on in their education. "Looking back, I only found out about [consulting opportunities] when I was a junior or a senior in college, which I think was a little too late," Sabharwal says. "Actually getting to know all this so early and getting a view of the world is remarkable." Katie Mark, a sophomore Forty Acres Scholar studying architecture and architectural engineering, says that she wasn't previously considering a career in consulting, but that the talk changed her mind. "It was really cool to hear about their experiences on such a personal level," Mark says. "Hearing about their projects and what they loved and didn't like about it gave me a better sense of what the real world will be like. This is an incredible opportunity." Illustration by Ashley Solano

Forty Acres Scholars Promote Diversity Through TexasTogether

Because UT is a campus full of people from different walks of life, Forty Acres scholars Mary Elizabeth Guerra and Caroline Meyerson, together with their friends Graham Bailey and Kornel Rady, noticed a disconnect between groups on campus and wanted to find a way to unite students to celebrate their diversity. From those ideas came TexasTogether, a new student organization founded by the four friends with the hopes of promoting respect, empathy, and patience on campus. "TexasTogether is a registered student organization open to UT students with the hope of reaching out and being a group that would center around inclusion and diversity," says Guerra, a sophomore studying neuroscience and Plan II Honors. Meyerson, a Business and Plan II Honors sophomore, explained that the ultimate goal is for students to move away from the characteristics that divide the student body and instead use it to bring people together. In its first official semester, on Nov. 4-7 the group held TogetherWeek, a week dedicated to featuring and discussing diversity on campus. The events included a diverse showcase of student performers, from the Alpha Kappa Psi step team to the Ransom Notes, a discussion panel, and a speaker series. The speaker series that capped off the week included Admiral Bobby R. Inman, BA ’ 50, Life Member; Law School Associate Dean John Beckworth, BA ’80, JD ’83, Life Member; and Austin City Council Member Randi Shade, BA ’88, Life Member. The speakers drew the biggest crowd of the week, Guerra says. "The speaker series was probably the most thought-provoking of the events," Guerra says. "It was interesting to hear their different takes on the topic." Both she and Meyerson admit it's not every day that as a student, you can meet a Navy admiral, a dean, and a city council member, and they credit the connections they made through the Forty Acres Scholars Program in bringing each of them to campus. "There's no way we would have made those personal connections with them or been able to reach out to them like we did without Forty Acres," Meyerson says. Beyond that, Meyerson says the Forty Acres Scholar Program has been influential in motivating the two to create and lead the group because of the program's requirements that strive to make them better students and community members. "Forty Acres constantly inspires me to make a positive difference by becoming more involved on campus and in the community," Meyerson says. "Through TexasTogether, we hope to make a small difference, whether it's with one person, one organization, or hopefully, one university." Going forward, Meyerson and Guerra say they plan for TogetherWeek to become an annual event and will also look to host other events, possibly even a concert in the spring, as the organization grows. They also hope to eventually expand to high schools in the community and other universities in Texas. "We want to consistently hold events in order to unite the campus and encourage students to treat everyone with respect," Meyerson says. From top: Caroline Meyerson; Mary Elizabeth Guerra. Mary Elizabeth Guerra is a recipient of the Stan L. McLelland Forty Acres Scholarship, and Caroline Meyerson is a recipient of the Susie and John L. Adams Forty Acres Scholarship.

Forty Acres Scholars Promote Diversity Through TexasTogether

Because UT is a campus full of people from different walks of life, Forty Acres scholars Mary Elizabeth Guerra and Caroline Meyerson, together with their friends Graham Bailey and Kornel Rady, noticed a disconnect between groups on campus and wanted to find a way to unite students to celebrate their diversity. From those ideas came TexasTogether, a new student organization founded by the four friends with the hopes of promoting respect, empathy, and patience on campus. "TexasTogether is a registered student organization open to UT students with the hope of reaching out and being a group that would center around inclusion and diversity," says Guerra, a sophomore studying neuroscience and Plan II Honors. Meyerson, a Business and Plan II Honors sophomore, explained that the ultimate goal is for students to move away from the characteristics that divide the student body and instead use it to bring people together. In its first official semester, on Nov. 4-7 the group held TogetherWeek, a week dedicated to featuring and discussing diversity on campus. The events included a diverse showcase of student performers, from the Alpha Kappa Psi step team to the Ransom Notes, a discussion panel, and a speaker series. The speaker series that capped off the week included Admiral Bobby R. Inman, BA ’ 50, Life Member; Law School Associate Dean John Beckworth, BA ’80, JD ’83, Life Member; and Austin City Council Member Randi Shade, BA ’88, Life Member. The speakers drew the biggest crowd of the week, Guerra says. "The speaker series was probably the most thought-provoking of the events," Guerra says. "It was interesting to hear their different takes on the topic." Both she and Meyerson admit it's not every day that as a student, you can meet a Navy admiral, a dean, and a city council member, and they credit the connections they made through the Forty Acres Scholars Program in bringing each of them to campus. "There's no way we would have made those personal connections with them or been able to reach out to them like we did without Forty Acres," Meyerson says. Beyond that, Meyerson says the Forty Acres Scholar Program has been influential in motivating the two to create and lead the group because of the program's requirements that strive to make them better students and community members. "Forty Acres constantly inspires me to make a positive difference by becoming more involved on campus and in the community," Meyerson says. "Through TexasTogether, we hope to make a small difference, whether it's with one person, one organization, or hopefully, one university." Going forward, Meyerson and Guerra say they plan for TogetherWeek to become an annual event and will also look to host other events, possibly even a concert in the spring, as the organization grows. They also hope to eventually expand to high schools in the community and other universities in Texas. "We want to consistently hold events in order to unite the campus and encourage students to treat everyone with respect," Meyerson says. From top: Caroline Meyerson; Mary Elizabeth Guerra. Mary Elizabeth Guerra is a recipient of the Stan L. McLelland Forty Acres Scholarship, and Caroline Meyerson is a recipient of the Susie and John L. Adams Forty Acres Scholarship.

Forty Acres Scholars Promote Diversity Through TexasTogether

Because UT is a campus full of people from different walks of life, Forty Acres scholars Mary Elizabeth Guerra and Caroline Meyerson, together with their friends Graham Bailey and Kornel Rady, noticed a disconnect between groups on campus and wanted to find a way to unite students to celebrate their diversity. From those ideas came TexasTogether, a new student organization founded by the four friends with the hopes of promoting respect, empathy, and patience on campus. "TexasTogether is a registered student organization open to UT students with the hope of reaching out and being a group that would center around inclusion and diversity," says Guerra, a sophomore studying neuroscience and Plan II Honors. Meyerson, a Business and Plan II Honors sophomore, explained that the ultimate goal is for students to move away from the characteristics that divide the student body and instead use it to bring people together. In its first official semester, on Nov. 4-7 the group held TogetherWeek, a week dedicated to featuring and discussing diversity on campus. The events included a diverse showcase of student performers, from the Alpha Kappa Psi step team to the Ransom Notes, a discussion panel, and a speaker series. The speaker series that capped off the week included Admiral Bobby R. Inman, BA ’ 50, Life Member; Law School Associate Dean John Beckworth, BA ’80, JD ’83, Life Member; and Austin City Council Member Randi Shade, BA ’88, Life Member. The speakers drew the biggest crowd of the week, Guerra says. "The speaker series was probably the most thought-provoking of the events," Guerra says. "It was interesting to hear their different takes on the topic." Both she and Meyerson admit it's not every day that as a student, you can meet a Navy admiral, a dean, and a city council member, and they credit the connections they made through the Forty Acres Scholars Program in bringing each of them to campus. "There's no way we would have made those personal connections with them or been able to reach out to them like we did without Forty Acres," Meyerson says. Beyond that, Meyerson says the Forty Acres Scholar Program has been influential in motivating the two to create and lead the group because of the program's requirements that strive to make them better students and community members. "Forty Acres constantly inspires me to make a positive difference by becoming more involved on campus and in the community," Meyerson says. "Through TexasTogether, we hope to make a small difference, whether it's with one person, one organization, or hopefully, one university." Going forward, Meyerson and Guerra say they plan for TogetherWeek to become an annual event and will also look to host other events, possibly even a concert in the spring, as the organization grows. They also hope to eventually expand to high schools in the community and other universities in Texas. "We want to consistently hold events in order to unite the campus and encourage students to treat everyone with respect," Meyerson says. From top: Caroline Meyerson; Mary Elizabeth Guerra. Mary Elizabeth Guerra is a recipient of the Stan L. McLelland Forty Acres Scholarship, and Caroline Meyerson is a recipient of the Susie and John L. Adams Forty Acres Scholarship.

Top Faculty Share Advice With Forty Acres Scholars

One of the biggest perks of being a Forty Acres Scholar is the opportunity to rub elbows with some of UT's most talented faculty. Case in point: a series of sit-down Forty Acres Discussions (FADs) that the scholars in the Class of 2017 participated in earlier this semester. Communications professor John Daly, history and public affairs professor Jeremi Suri, and Admiral Bob Inman, former Dean of the LBJ School and Distinguished Alumnus, each had their own opportunity to share wisdom and advice with the scholars. During three two-hour discussions throughout the month of September, held in the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, the scholars and professors shared a meal and informal conversation before each faculty member stood up to deliver a more formal lecture. Daly says he understands the importance of lectures and classes, but also stresses the often-forgotten value of conversations that happen in between and outside them. Accordingly, he urged the scholars to appreciate the powerful role communication plays in our world. “It’s about talking to teachers, working with groups of students, making headway with administrative folks,” Daly says. He encouraged the group of Forty Acres Scholars to get “adopted” by teachers and become acquainted with the staff in their departments. “It’s all about having a great time socially and intellectually,” Daly says. After meeting the scholars, he says he is convinced that they are already on the right track. “They’re such a diverse group of people in terms of interests and backgrounds. I was surprised by how much they genuinely seem to like each other,” he says. Jeremi Suri, the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs, was happily surprised by the concern the Forty Acres Scholars—a group he calls “refreshingly bipartisan"—expressed over their role in the future of society. “They seem to really recognize that there are some big problems we may have to face as a society, and that it won’t be easy, but we must fix them,” says Suri. “They had an equal sense of privilege and appreciation for the opportunities that they have been given, but also of responsibility.” While this sense of duty is something Suri admired in the scholars, he encouraged them to not let it dictate every decision they make as students. “Sometimes intelligent risk-taking can yield better results than planning. Take risks. Especially ones that have meaningful value in terms of learning," he says. Forty Acres Scholar Marlene Renz says that discussions like these have become one of her favorite parts of the program. “Sitting down with such experienced and impressive people,” Renz says, "is a real educational experience.” Renz was struck by how approachable the speakers were, and how applicable the topics they discussed were to her own education and future career. “We talked about success, having impact and the working world,” Renz says. “Dr. Daly told us it’s the difference between saying, “It’s great to see you,” instead of, “It’s nice to meet you.” There are a lot of behaviors that are expected of you in the professional world, and it’s great to be taught some of them so early.” Renz says the advice of Admiral Inman, the Centennial Chair in National Policy at the LBJ School, was what resonated most with her. “Admiral Inman used his life experiences as teaching points. Instead of throwing out advice he told us what he did,” Renz says. “The best part of the conversation was discussing travel and work-life balance. He told us flexibility and being willing to try things are essential. He also told us about the importance of reading and staying up to date in the world.”  

Top Faculty Share Advice With Forty Acres Scholars

One of the biggest perks of being a Forty Acres Scholar is the opportunity to rub elbows with some of UT's most talented faculty. Case in point: a series of sit-down Forty Acres Discussions (FADs) that the scholars in the Class of 2017 participated in earlier this semester. Communications professor John Daly, history and public affairs professor Jeremi Suri, and Admiral Bob Inman, former Dean of the LBJ School and Distinguished Alumnus, each had their own opportunity to share wisdom and advice with the scholars. During three two-hour discussions throughout the month of September, held in the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, the scholars and professors shared a meal and informal conversation before each faculty member stood up to deliver a more formal lecture. Daly says he understands the importance of lectures and classes, but also stresses the often-forgotten value of conversations that happen in between and outside them. Accordingly, he urged the scholars to appreciate the powerful role communication plays in our world. “It’s about talking to teachers, working with groups of students, making headway with administrative folks,” Daly says. He encouraged the group of Forty Acres Scholars to get “adopted” by teachers and become acquainted with the staff in their departments. “It’s all about having a great time socially and intellectually,” Daly says. After meeting the scholars, he says he is convinced that they are already on the right track. “They’re such a diverse group of people in terms of interests and backgrounds. I was surprised by how much they genuinely seem to like each other,” he says. Jeremi Suri, the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs, was happily surprised by the concern the Forty Acres Scholars—a group he calls “refreshingly bipartisan"—expressed over their role in the future of society. “They seem to really recognize that there are some big problems we may have to face as a society, and that it won’t be easy, but we must fix them,” says Suri. “They had an equal sense of privilege and appreciation for the opportunities that they have been given, but also of responsibility.” While this sense of duty is something Suri admired in the scholars, he encouraged them to not let it dictate every decision they make as students. “Sometimes intelligent risk-taking can yield better results than planning. Take risks. Especially ones that have meaningful value in terms of learning," he says. Forty Acres Scholar Marlene Renz says that discussions like these have become one of her favorite parts of the program. “Sitting down with such experienced and impressive people,” Renz says, "is a real educational experience.” Renz was struck by how approachable the speakers were, and how applicable the topics they discussed were to her own education and future career. “We talked about success, having impact and the working world,” Renz says. “Dr. Daly told us it’s the difference between saying, “It’s great to see you,” instead of, “It’s nice to meet you.” There are a lot of behaviors that are expected of you in the professional world, and it’s great to be taught some of them so early.” Renz says the advice of Admiral Inman, the Centennial Chair in National Policy at the LBJ School, was what resonated most with her. “Admiral Inman used his life experiences as teaching points. Instead of throwing out advice he told us what he did,” Renz says. “The best part of the conversation was discussing travel and work-life balance. He told us flexibility and being willing to try things are essential. He also told us about the importance of reading and staying up to date in the world.”  

Top Faculty Share Advice With Forty Acres Scholars

One of the biggest perks of being a Forty Acres Scholar is the opportunity to rub elbows with some of UT's most talented faculty. Case in point: a series of sit-down Forty Acres Discussions (FADs) that the scholars in the Class of 2017 participated in earlier this semester. Communications professor John Daly, history and public affairs professor Jeremi Suri, and Admiral Bob Inman, former Dean of the LBJ School and Distinguished Alumnus, each had their own opportunity to share wisdom and advice with the scholars. During three two-hour discussions throughout the month of September, held in the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, the scholars and professors shared a meal and informal conversation before each faculty member stood up to deliver a more formal lecture. Daly says he understands the importance of lectures and classes, but also stresses the often-forgotten value of conversations that happen in between and outside them. Accordingly, he urged the scholars to appreciate the powerful role communication plays in our world. “It’s about talking to teachers, working with groups of students, making headway with administrative folks,” Daly says. He encouraged the group of Forty Acres Scholars to get “adopted” by teachers and become acquainted with the staff in their departments. “It’s all about having a great time socially and intellectually,” Daly says. After meeting the scholars, he says he is convinced that they are already on the right track. “They’re such a diverse group of people in terms of interests and backgrounds. I was surprised by how much they genuinely seem to like each other,” he says. Jeremi Suri, the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs, was happily surprised by the concern the Forty Acres Scholars—a group he calls “refreshingly bipartisan"—expressed over their role in the future of society. “They seem to really recognize that there are some big problems we may have to face as a society, and that it won’t be easy, but we must fix them,” says Suri. “They had an equal sense of privilege and appreciation for the opportunities that they have been given, but also of responsibility.” While this sense of duty is something Suri admired in the scholars, he encouraged them to not let it dictate every decision they make as students. “Sometimes intelligent risk-taking can yield better results than planning. Take risks. Especially ones that have meaningful value in terms of learning," he says. Forty Acres Scholar Marlene Renz says that discussions like these have become one of her favorite parts of the program. “Sitting down with such experienced and impressive people,” Renz says, "is a real educational experience.” Renz was struck by how approachable the speakers were, and how applicable the topics they discussed were to her own education and future career. “We talked about success, having impact and the working world,” Renz says. “Dr. Daly told us it’s the difference between saying, “It’s great to see you,” instead of, “It’s nice to meet you.” There are a lot of behaviors that are expected of you in the professional world, and it’s great to be taught some of them so early.” Renz says the advice of Admiral Inman, the Centennial Chair in National Policy at the LBJ School, was what resonated most with her. “Admiral Inman used his life experiences as teaching points. Instead of throwing out advice he told us what he did,” Renz says. “The best part of the conversation was discussing travel and work-life balance. He told us flexibility and being willing to try things are essential. He also told us about the importance of reading and staying up to date in the world.”  

The Artist's Way: A Forty Acres Scholar Finds His Voice

Connor Frew spent the summer before college scrounging for paint and supplies and ended up settling for the cheapest material he could find: rejected house paint samples from Home Depot. "I was working with whatever I could get my hands on," says Frew, a freshman in the Forty Acres Scholar Program who is majoring in Studio Art. Frew says he doesn't believe in categorizing his work is in any formal art term and instead he studies art history, reads books from his favorite artists, mixes mediums, and tries out new techniques every time he wants to make something. That unusual approach paid off when Frew was chosen to compete in an event called Artist v Architect which was held in Dallas on Nov. 14. Members of the two disciplines competed and collaborated to celebrate the interplay of modern art and architecture. Frew used the competition to try out a new technique of enlarging photos, applying latex paint, and then removing the paint to expose what he calls "ghostings" in the grains and grooves of the prints. In the spirit of collaboration, Frew worked with architect Andrew Cortez to create a walk-through space from 4-feet-by-6-feet planks of wood, steel bars, and draped fabric to represent a person's connection with a building and space. "We called it 'Portal,'" Frew says. "What was really interesting is after you could see footprints across the bottom and it was like 'Wow, they got it,' when it came to our idea of actually going through it." Audience members were given two tokens at the event in order to vote for their favorite, and while neither of Frew's pieces won, he says he is still grateful for the experience, especially since he was the youngest one competing. "There was a wide range of ages, I'd say mainly between 30s and 50s," he says. "And then there was me."  Even though he's only headed into his second semester at UT, Frew says he is excited for more opportunities that will allow him to immerse himself in his love of art and art history—and he knows the Forty Acres Scholars Program will be a big part of making that possible. "It's knowing that I'm going to have access to everything I need, and knowing that I can be crazy ambitious while still having a support system," Frew says. "It drives me to go out and learn and experience more while I'm here because I know they believe in me." From top: A slideshow of Connor Frew's art portfolio from his Tumblr; Frew's collaborative piece from the Artist v Architect competition, entitled "Portal"; Frew's individual work from the competition, "Ghostings." Photos courtesy Connor Frew.

The Artist's Way: A Forty Acres Scholar Finds His Voice

Connor Frew spent the summer before college scrounging for paint and supplies and ended up settling for the cheapest material he could find: rejected house paint samples from Home Depot. "I was working with whatever I could get my hands on," says Frew, a freshman in the Forty Acres Scholar Program who is majoring in Studio Art. Frew says he doesn't believe in categorizing his work is in any formal art term and instead he studies art history, reads books from his favorite artists, mixes mediums, and tries out new techniques every time he wants to make something. That unusual approach paid off when Frew was chosen to compete in an event called Artist v Architect which was held in Dallas on Nov. 14. Members of the two disciplines competed and collaborated to celebrate the interplay of modern art and architecture. Frew used the competition to try out a new technique of enlarging photos, applying latex paint, and then removing the paint to expose what he calls "ghostings" in the grains and grooves of the prints. In the spirit of collaboration, Frew worked with architect Andrew Cortez to create a walk-through space from 4-feet-by-6-feet planks of wood, steel bars, and draped fabric to represent a person's connection with a building and space. "We called it 'Portal,'" Frew says. "What was really interesting is after you could see footprints across the bottom and it was like 'Wow, they got it,' when it came to our idea of actually going through it." Audience members were given two tokens at the event in order to vote for their favorite, and while neither of Frew's pieces won, he says he is still grateful for the experience, especially since he was the youngest one competing. "There was a wide range of ages, I'd say mainly between 30s and 50s," he says. "And then there was me."  Even though he's only headed into his second semester at UT, Frew says he is excited for more opportunities that will allow him to immerse himself in his love of art and art history—and he knows the Forty Acres Scholars Program will be a big part of making that possible. "It's knowing that I'm going to have access to everything I need, and knowing that I can be crazy ambitious while still having a support system," Frew says. "It drives me to go out and learn and experience more while I'm here because I know they believe in me." From top: A slideshow of Connor Frew's art portfolio from his Tumblr; Frew's collaborative piece from the Artist v Architect competition, entitled "Portal"; Frew's individual work from the competition, "Ghostings." Photos courtesy Connor Frew.

The Artist's Way: A Forty Acres Scholar Finds His Voice

Connor Frew spent the summer before college scrounging for paint and supplies and ended up settling for the cheapest material he could find: rejected house paint samples from Home Depot. "I was working with whatever I could get my hands on," says Frew, a freshman in the Forty Acres Scholar Program who is majoring in Studio Art. Frew says he doesn't believe in categorizing his work is in any formal art term and instead he studies art history, reads books from his favorite artists, mixes mediums, and tries out new techniques every time he wants to make something. That unusual approach paid off when Frew was chosen to compete in an event called Artist v Architect which was held in Dallas on Nov. 14. Members of the two disciplines competed and collaborated to celebrate the interplay of modern art and architecture. Frew used the competition to try out a new technique of enlarging photos, applying latex paint, and then removing the paint to expose what he calls "ghostings" in the grains and grooves of the prints. In the spirit of collaboration, Frew worked with architect Andrew Cortez to create a walk-through space from 4-feet-by-6-feet planks of wood, steel bars, and draped fabric to represent a person's connection with a building and space. "We called it 'Portal,'" Frew says. "What was really interesting is after you could see footprints across the bottom and it was like 'Wow, they got it,' when it came to our idea of actually going through it." Audience members were given two tokens at the event in order to vote for their favorite, and while neither of Frew's pieces won, he says he is still grateful for the experience, especially since he was the youngest one competing. "There was a wide range of ages, I'd say mainly between 30s and 50s," he says. "And then there was me."  Even though he's only headed into his second semester at UT, Frew says he is excited for more opportunities that will allow him to immerse himself in his love of art and art history—and he knows the Forty Acres Scholars Program will be a big part of making that possible. "It's knowing that I'm going to have access to everything I need, and knowing that I can be crazy ambitious while still having a support system," Frew says. "It drives me to go out and learn and experience more while I'm here because I know they believe in me." From top: A slideshow of Connor Frew's art portfolio from his Tumblr; Frew's collaborative piece from the Artist v Architect competition, entitled "Portal"; Frew's individual work from the competition, "Ghostings." Photos courtesy Connor Frew.

Dallas Chapter Scholarship Dinner Nets $300,000 [Watch]

The Texas Exes Dallas Chapter annual scholarship dinner is always a red-letter day, but this year the chapter took things to the next level. In addition to raising a record-breaking $300,000 for the Forty Acres Scholars Program, last week's fifth-annual dinner had a palpable sense of excitement. "We're in awe," says Jeff Duchin, BBA ’98, Life Member, a chapter leader who co-chaired the event with Monica Murrell, BA ’02, Life Member. "There was a lot of great energy in that room." More than 230 guests filled the Belo Mansion for the event. Among the many Longhorn dignitaries in attendance were UT president Bill Powers, State Rep. Dan Branch, and former U.S. Sen. and Texas Exes president-elect Kay Bailey Hutchison, LLB ’67, BA ’92, Life Member, Distinguished Alumna. The evening's guest of honor was businessman and UT supporter Todd Maclin, BBA ’78, Life Member, whom the chapter named its 2013 Outstanding Dallas Texas Ex. The chairman of consumer and commercial banking at Chase, Maclin is a longtime philanthropist who serves as a director on UT's Development Board and is a member of the advisory council for the McCombs School of Business. Texas Exes CEO and executive director Leslie Cedar told the crowd that coming together to honor Maclin was an opportunity as well as a celebration. "By celebrating him we have the opportunity to bring together so many enormously generous and committed people to advance our scholarships mission," said Cedar, BS ’89, MBA ’98. "That mission’s most noble undertaking is the  Forty Acres Scholars Program, UT’s premier full-ride, merit-based scholarship program chock-full of enrichment opportunities and for any degree plan on campus." The dinner's silent auction, always stocked with creative burnt-orange prizes, didn't disappoint. Items up for auction ranged from an orange Vespa scooter to the chance to watch opening day of next year's football season from President Powers' private suite. Duchin estimates the dinner raised roughly $300,000—a massive increase over last year's total of $70,000. According to Duchin, the funds raised last week will nearly complete funding for the chapter's second Forty Acres Scholarship. "It gets us over two-thirds there," Duchin says. "It was absolutely amazing." Below, watch the scholarship video that was shown at the dinner: President Bill Powers was a featured speaker at the dinner. Photo by David Duchin / DSPNphotos.com

Dallas Chapter Scholarship Dinner Nets $300,000 [Watch]

The Texas Exes Dallas Chapter annual scholarship dinner is always a red-letter day, but this year the chapter took things to the next level. In addition to raising a record-breaking $300,000 for the Forty Acres Scholars Program, last week's fifth-annual dinner had a palpable sense of excitement. "We're in awe," says Jeff Duchin, BBA ’98, Life Member, a chapter leader who co-chaired the event with Monica Murrell, BA ’02, Life Member. "There was a lot of great energy in that room." More than 230 guests filled the Belo Mansion for the event. Among the many Longhorn dignitaries in attendance were UT president Bill Powers, State Rep. Dan Branch, and former U.S. Sen. and Texas Exes president-elect Kay Bailey Hutchison, LLB ’67, BA ’92, Life Member, Distinguished Alumna. The evening's guest of honor was businessman and UT supporter Todd Maclin, BBA ’78, Life Member, whom the chapter named its 2013 Outstanding Dallas Texas Ex. The chairman of consumer and commercial banking at Chase, Maclin is a longtime philanthropist who serves as a director on UT's Development Board and is a member of the advisory council for the McCombs School of Business. Texas Exes CEO and executive director Leslie Cedar told the crowd that coming together to honor Maclin was an opportunity as well as a celebration. "By celebrating him we have the opportunity to bring together so many enormously generous and committed people to advance our scholarships mission," said Cedar, BS ’89, MBA ’98. "That mission’s most noble undertaking is the  Forty Acres Scholars Program, UT’s premier full-ride, merit-based scholarship program chock-full of enrichment opportunities and for any degree plan on campus." The dinner's silent auction, always stocked with creative burnt-orange prizes, didn't disappoint. Items up for auction ranged from an orange Vespa scooter to the chance to watch opening day of next year's football season from President Powers' private suite. Duchin estimates the dinner raised roughly $300,000—a massive increase over last year's total of $70,000. According to Duchin, the funds raised last week will nearly complete funding for the chapter's second Forty Acres Scholarship. "It gets us over two-thirds there," Duchin says. "It was absolutely amazing." Below, watch the scholarship video that was shown at the dinner: President Bill Powers was a featured speaker at the dinner. Photo by David Duchin / DSPNphotos.com

Dallas Chapter Scholarship Dinner Nets $300,000 [Watch]

The Texas Exes Dallas Chapter annual scholarship dinner is always a red-letter day, but this year the chapter took things to the next level. In addition to raising a record-breaking $300,000 for the Forty Acres Scholars Program, last week's fifth-annual dinner had a palpable sense of excitement. "We're in awe," says Jeff Duchin, BBA ’98, Life Member, a chapter leader who co-chaired the event with Monica Murrell, BA ’02, Life Member. "There was a lot of great energy in that room." More than 230 guests filled the Belo Mansion for the event. Among the many Longhorn dignitaries in attendance were UT president Bill Powers, State Rep. Dan Branch, and former U.S. Sen. and Texas Exes president-elect Kay Bailey Hutchison, LLB ’67, BA ’92, Life Member, Distinguished Alumna. The evening's guest of honor was businessman and UT supporter Todd Maclin, BBA ’78, Life Member, whom the chapter named its 2013 Outstanding Dallas Texas Ex. The chairman of consumer and commercial banking at Chase, Maclin is a longtime philanthropist who serves as a director on UT's Development Board and is a member of the advisory council for the McCombs School of Business. Texas Exes CEO and executive director Leslie Cedar told the crowd that coming together to honor Maclin was an opportunity as well as a celebration. "By celebrating him we have the opportunity to bring together so many enormously generous and committed people to advance our scholarships mission," said Cedar, BS ’89, MBA ’98. "That mission’s most noble undertaking is the  Forty Acres Scholars Program, UT’s premier full-ride, merit-based scholarship program chock-full of enrichment opportunities and for any degree plan on campus." The dinner's silent auction, always stocked with creative burnt-orange prizes, didn't disappoint. Items up for auction ranged from an orange Vespa scooter to the chance to watch opening day of next year's football season from President Powers' private suite. Duchin estimates the dinner raised roughly $300,000—a massive increase over last year's total of $70,000. According to Duchin, the funds raised last week will nearly complete funding for the chapter's second Forty Acres Scholarship. "It gets us over two-thirds there," Duchin says. "It was absolutely amazing." Below, watch the scholarship video that was shown at the dinner: President Bill Powers was a featured speaker at the dinner. Photo by David Duchin / DSPNphotos.com