Forty Acres Scholars Program Announces Finalists

This year, with a new application process in place, more than 3,000 high school students applied to the Forty Acres Scholars Program, the premier full-ride, merit-based scholarship at the University of Texas at Austin. Of that number, just 59 students were selected as finalists for the prestigious scholarship. The finalists have an average SAT score of 1450 and an average ACT score of 33. In addition to their academic achievements, many of them somehow found the time to add lines like Eagle Scout, jazz musician, varsity athlete, and even the CEO and founder of a nonprofit company to their respective résumés. The finalists for the Class of 2019 include students in nine different UT colleges—including the first two finalists in the history of the program who intend to study nursing. They hail from Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, and Maryland. From February 26-28, the students will come to Austin for Finalists Weekend, where they will learn more about the campus, sit down for interviews, and get a glimpse of what their future life in Austin could look like. Meet the finalists: Jeff Auster L.C. Anderson High School Austin, TX Erin Backus Trimble Technical High School Fort Worth, TX Giancarlo Bernini Science Academy of South Texas Mission, TX Margaret Berno St. Agnes Academy Houston, TX Natalie Berry Cy-Fair High School Cypress, TX Henry Boehm Vanguard College Preparatory School Waco, TX Shannon Carey Georgetown High School Georgetown, TX Janelle Chavez Port Isabel High School Port Isabel, TX Gabriela Coelho Talawanda High School Oxford, OH Forest Cummings-Taylor St. Mark's School of Texas Richardson, TX Theo Daniels-Kolin Washington International School Bethesda, MD Isabelle Donatelli Kent Place School Upper Montclair, NJ Mark Dovich Walnut Hills High School Cincinnati, OH Justin Dunlap Westlake High School Austin, TX Michael Everett Carroll Senior High School Southlake, TX Ale Fores United South High School Laredo, TX John-Anthony Fraga Harlingen High School South Harlingen, TX Burke Garza St. Mark's School of Texas Dallas, TX Jacqueline Gibson Ursuline Academy Cedar Hill, TX Chandler Groves Carroll Senior High School Southlake, TX Elyse Guilstorf John H. Guyer High School Corinth, TX Jocelyn Hernandez Robert E. Lee High School San Antonio, TX Jacqueline Huang Cinco Ranch High School Katy, TX Anne-Marie Hwang The Hockaday School Plano, TX Dominic Iannelli Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas Southlake, TX Eunice Iyalho Mansfield High School M ansfield, TX Mandy Justiz St. Andrew's Episcopal School Austin, TX Sam Kerner Plano East Senior High School Plano, TX Chris Koenig Sharyland High School Mission, TX Seth Krasne Coronado High School El Paso, TX Denise Kwong Clear Lake High School Houston, TX Phoebe Lin Plano West Senior High School Plano, TX Carson Markle Gainesville High School Gainesville, TX Omar Mata KIPP Houston High School Houston, TX Kelsey Mumford Lago Vista High School Lago Vista, TX Santosh Murugan Trinity Valley School Fort Worth, TX Daniel Noorily Health Careers High School San Antonio, TX Hank Patton Portage Northern High School Portage, MI Vasia Pobedinski St. John's School Houston, TX Alex Rabinovich McAllen Memorial High School McAllen, TX Christine Ramjee Highland Park High School Dallas, TX Chessie Reece Trinity High School Euless, TX Matt Reitman Business Careers High School San Antonio, TX Ben Rindler Saint Mary's Hall San Antonio, TX Clarissa Rivera Brownsville Early College High School Brownsville, TX Caroline Rock Belton High School Temple, TX Marissa Rodriguez El Paso High School El Paso, TX Melody Rodriguez Fort Worth Country Day Fort Worth, TX Reece Rosenthal The Kinkaid School Houston, TX Ramee Saleh Ronald Reagan High School San Antonio, TX Roshini Saravanakumar Clear Springs High School League City, TX Kaylee Schnur The Woodlands College Park High School The Woodlands, TX Celia Shaheen Plano West Senior High School Plano, TX Haden Smiley Friona High School Friona, TX Isabelle Stasenko Peters Township High School Venetia, PA Lakshmi Uppalapati The Hockaday School Coppell, TX Audrey Urbis Los Fresnos High School Brownsville, TX Audra Vigil Manzano High School Albuquerque, NM Douglas Ziman John Cooper School The Woodlands, TX

Forty Acres Scholars Program Announces Finalists

This year, with a new application process in place, more than 3,000 high school students applied to the Forty Acres Scholars Program, the premier full-ride, merit-based scholarship at the University of Texas at Austin. Of that number, just 59 students were selected as finalists for the prestigious scholarship. The finalists have an average SAT score of 1450 and an average ACT score of 33. In addition to their academic achievements, many of them somehow found the time to add lines like Eagle Scout, jazz musician, varsity athlete, and even the CEO and founder of a nonprofit company to their respective résumés. The finalists for the Class of 2019 include students in nine different UT colleges—including the first two finalists in the history of the program who intend to study nursing. They hail from Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, and Maryland. From February 26-28, the students will come to Austin for Finalists Weekend, where they will learn more about the campus, sit down for interviews, and get a glimpse of what their future life in Austin could look like. Meet the finalists: Jeff Auster L.C. Anderson High School Austin, TX Erin Backus Trimble Technical High School Fort Worth, TX Giancarlo Bernini Science Academy of South Texas Mission, TX Margaret Berno St. Agnes Academy Houston, TX Natalie Berry Cy-Fair High School Cypress, TX Henry Boehm Vanguard College Preparatory School Waco, TX Shannon Carey Georgetown High School Georgetown, TX Janelle Chavez Port Isabel High School Port Isabel, TX Gabriela Coelho Talawanda High School Oxford, OH Forest Cummings-Taylor St. Mark's School of Texas Richardson, TX Theo Daniels-Kolin Washington International School Bethesda, MD Isabelle Donatelli Kent Place School Upper Montclair, NJ Mark Dovich Walnut Hills High School Cincinnati, OH Justin Dunlap Westlake High School Austin, TX Michael Everett Carroll Senior High School Southlake, TX Ale Fores United South High School Laredo, TX John-Anthony Fraga Harlingen High School South Harlingen, TX Burke Garza St. Mark's School of Texas Dallas, TX Jacqueline Gibson Ursuline Academy Cedar Hill, TX Chandler Groves Carroll Senior High School Southlake, TX Elyse Guilstorf John H. Guyer High School Corinth, TX Jocelyn Hernandez Robert E. Lee High School San Antonio, TX Jacqueline Huang Cinco Ranch High School Katy, TX Anne-Marie Hwang The Hockaday School Plano, TX Dominic Iannelli Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas Southlake, TX Eunice Iyalho Mansfield High School M ansfield, TX Mandy Justiz St. Andrew's Episcopal School Austin, TX Sam Kerner Plano East Senior High School Plano, TX Chris Koenig Sharyland High School Mission, TX Seth Krasne Coronado High School El Paso, TX Denise Kwong Clear Lake High School Houston, TX Phoebe Lin Plano West Senior High School Plano, TX Carson Markle Gainesville High School Gainesville, TX Omar Mata KIPP Houston High School Houston, TX Kelsey Mumford Lago Vista High School Lago Vista, TX Santosh Murugan Trinity Valley School Fort Worth, TX Daniel Noorily Health Careers High School San Antonio, TX Hank Patton Portage Northern High School Portage, MI Vasia Pobedinski St. John's School Houston, TX Alex Rabinovich McAllen Memorial High School McAllen, TX Christine Ramjee Highland Park High School Dallas, TX Chessie Reece Trinity High School Euless, TX Matt Reitman Business Careers High School San Antonio, TX Ben Rindler Saint Mary's Hall San Antonio, TX Clarissa Rivera Brownsville Early College High School Brownsville, TX Caroline Rock Belton High School Temple, TX Marissa Rodriguez El Paso High School El Paso, TX Melody Rodriguez Fort Worth Country Day Fort Worth, TX Reece Rosenthal The Kinkaid School Houston, TX Ramee Saleh Ronald Reagan High School San Antonio, TX Roshini Saravanakumar Clear Springs High School League City, TX Kaylee Schnur The Woodlands College Park High School The Woodlands, TX Celia Shaheen Plano West Senior High School Plano, TX Haden Smiley Friona High School Friona, TX Isabelle Stasenko Peters Township High School Venetia, PA Lakshmi Uppalapati The Hockaday School Coppell, TX Audrey Urbis Los Fresnos High School Brownsville, TX Audra Vigil Manzano High School Albuquerque, NM Douglas Ziman John Cooper School The Woodlands, TX

Forty Acres Scholars Program Announces Finalists

This year, with a new application process in place, more than 3,000 high school students applied to the Forty Acres Scholars Program, the premier full-ride, merit-based scholarship at the University of Texas at Austin. Of that number, just 59 students were selected as finalists for the prestigious scholarship. The finalists have an average SAT score of 1450 and an average ACT score of 33. In addition to their academic achievements, many of them somehow found the time to add lines like Eagle Scout, jazz musician, varsity athlete, and even the CEO and founder of a nonprofit company to their respective résumés. The finalists for the Class of 2019 include students in nine different UT colleges—including the first two finalists in the history of the program who intend to study nursing. They hail from Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, and Maryland. From February 26-28, the students will come to Austin for Finalists Weekend, where they will learn more about the campus, sit down for interviews, and get a glimpse of what their future life in Austin could look like. Meet the finalists: Jeff Auster L.C. Anderson High School Austin, TX Erin Backus Trimble Technical High School Fort Worth, TX Giancarlo Bernini Science Academy of South Texas Mission, TX Margaret Berno St. Agnes Academy Houston, TX Natalie Berry Cy-Fair High School Cypress, TX Henry Boehm Vanguard College Preparatory School Waco, TX Shannon Carey Georgetown High School Georgetown, TX Janelle Chavez Port Isabel High School Port Isabel, TX Gabriela Coelho Talawanda High School Oxford, OH Forest Cummings-Taylor St. Mark's School of Texas Richardson, TX Theo Daniels-Kolin Washington International School Bethesda, MD Isabelle Donatelli Kent Place School Upper Montclair, NJ Mark Dovich Walnut Hills High School Cincinnati, OH Justin Dunlap Westlake High School Austin, TX Michael Everett Carroll Senior High School Southlake, TX Ale Fores United South High School Laredo, TX John-Anthony Fraga Harlingen High School South Harlingen, TX Burke Garza St. Mark's School of Texas Dallas, TX Jacqueline Gibson Ursuline Academy Cedar Hill, TX Chandler Groves Carroll Senior High School Southlake, TX Elyse Guilstorf John H. Guyer High School Corinth, TX Jocelyn Hernandez Robert E. Lee High School San Antonio, TX Jacqueline Huang Cinco Ranch High School Katy, TX Anne-Marie Hwang The Hockaday School Plano, TX Dominic Iannelli Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas Southlake, TX Eunice Iyalho Mansfield High School M ansfield, TX Mandy Justiz St. Andrew's Episcopal School Austin, TX Sam Kerner Plano East Senior High School Plano, TX Chris Koenig Sharyland High School Mission, TX Seth Krasne Coronado High School El Paso, TX Denise Kwong Clear Lake High School Houston, TX Phoebe Lin Plano West Senior High School Plano, TX Carson Markle Gainesville High School Gainesville, TX Omar Mata KIPP Houston High School Houston, TX Kelsey Mumford Lago Vista High School Lago Vista, TX Santosh Murugan Trinity Valley School Fort Worth, TX Daniel Noorily Health Careers High School San Antonio, TX Hank Patton Portage Northern High School Portage, MI Vasia Pobedinski St. John's School Houston, TX Alex Rabinovich McAllen Memorial High School McAllen, TX Christine Ramjee Highland Park High School Dallas, TX Chessie Reece Trinity High School Euless, TX Matt Reitman Business Careers High School San Antonio, TX Ben Rindler Saint Mary's Hall San Antonio, TX Clarissa Rivera Brownsville Early College High School Brownsville, TX Caroline Rock Belton High School Temple, TX Marissa Rodriguez El Paso High School El Paso, TX Melody Rodriguez Fort Worth Country Day Fort Worth, TX Reece Rosenthal The Kinkaid School Houston, TX Ramee Saleh Ronald Reagan High School San Antonio, TX Roshini Saravanakumar Clear Springs High School League City, TX Kaylee Schnur The Woodlands College Park High School The Woodlands, TX Celia Shaheen Plano West Senior High School Plano, TX Haden Smiley Friona High School Friona, TX Isabelle Stasenko Peters Township High School Venetia, PA Lakshmi Uppalapati The Hockaday School Coppell, TX Audrey Urbis Los Fresnos High School Brownsville, TX Audra Vigil Manzano High School Albuquerque, NM Douglas Ziman John Cooper School The Woodlands, TX

Dallas Chapter Funds Second Forty Acres Scholarship

There was a lot to celebrate the night of November 19. At its 2014 scholarship dinner, the Texas Exes Dallas Chapter honored Rex W. Tillerson, BS ’75, Life Member, Distinguished Alumnus, CEO of ExxonMobil Corp., applauded the achievements of UT president Bill Powers and announced that the chapter had completed funding for its second Forty Acres Scholarship. And in true Dallas style, there was even more: They have already begun raising money for a third. In just six years, the chapter and its volunteers have raised a total of $1 million and become a fundraising force for the Forty Acres Scholars Program, Texas Exes' premier merit-based scholarship for the University of Texas at Austin. Jeff Duchin, BBA ’98, Life Member, a Dallas chapter leader and volunteer on the Chapters Advisory Board, says, "I think it’s unique that we’ve been able to fund two Forty Acres Scholarships on our own without matching. We have a lot of hardworking volunteers that make the event a success and a lot of passionate alumni who are willing to support the program and help out their local chapter." Speakers at the dinner included Powers, whom the chapter honored with the first-ever "No. 1 President" bronzed Longhorn trophy; Texas Exes President Kay Bailey Hutchison, LLB ’67, BA ’92, Life Member, Distinguished Alumna; and Forty Acres Scholar Katherine Allen, a freshman Plan II  major. Earlier this year, Duchin spoke with the Alcalde about spearheading a complete overhaul of the annual dinner's format, which has increased attendance, donations, and anticipation of the event. “Now it has a purpose,” Duchin said. “Now it has legs and strong supporters. It’s probably the biggest thing I am proud of.” Above: Current and former chapter board members and Texas Exes staff at the 2014 scholarship dinner honoring Rex Tillerson. Photo by David Duchin / DSPN Photos

Dallas Chapter Funds Second Forty Acres Scholarship

There was a lot to celebrate the night of November 19. At its 2014 scholarship dinner, the Texas Exes Dallas Chapter honored Rex W. Tillerson, BS ’75, Life Member, Distinguished Alumnus, CEO of ExxonMobil Corp., applauded the achievements of UT president Bill Powers and announced that the chapter had completed funding for its second Forty Acres Scholarship. And in true Dallas style, there was even more: They have already begun raising money for a third. In just six years, the chapter and its volunteers have raised a total of $1 million and become a fundraising force for the Forty Acres Scholars Program, Texas Exes' premier merit-based scholarship for the University of Texas at Austin. Jeff Duchin, BBA ’98, Life Member, a Dallas chapter leader and volunteer on the Chapters Advisory Board, says, "I think it’s unique that we’ve been able to fund two Forty Acres Scholarships on our own without matching. We have a lot of hardworking volunteers that make the event a success and a lot of passionate alumni who are willing to support the program and help out their local chapter." Speakers at the dinner included Powers, whom the chapter honored with the first-ever "No. 1 President" bronzed Longhorn trophy; Texas Exes President Kay Bailey Hutchison, LLB ’67, BA ’92, Life Member, Distinguished Alumna; and Forty Acres Scholar Katherine Allen, a freshman Plan II  major. Earlier this year, Duchin spoke with the Alcalde about spearheading a complete overhaul of the annual dinner's format, which has increased attendance, donations, and anticipation of the event. “Now it has a purpose,” Duchin said. “Now it has legs and strong supporters. It’s probably the biggest thing I am proud of.” Above: Current and former chapter board members and Texas Exes staff at the 2014 scholarship dinner honoring Rex Tillerson. Photo by David Duchin / DSPN Photos

Dallas Chapter Funds Second Forty Acres Scholarship

There was a lot to celebrate the night of November 19. At its 2014 scholarship dinner, the Texas Exes Dallas Chapter honored Rex W. Tillerson, BS ’75, Life Member, Distinguished Alumnus, CEO of ExxonMobil Corp., applauded the achievements of UT president Bill Powers and announced that the chapter had completed funding for its second Forty Acres Scholarship. And in true Dallas style, there was even more: They have already begun raising money for a third. In just six years, the chapter and its volunteers have raised a total of $1 million and become a fundraising force for the Forty Acres Scholars Program, Texas Exes' premier merit-based scholarship for the University of Texas at Austin. Jeff Duchin, BBA ’98, Life Member, a Dallas chapter leader and volunteer on the Chapters Advisory Board, says, "I think it’s unique that we’ve been able to fund two Forty Acres Scholarships on our own without matching. We have a lot of hardworking volunteers that make the event a success and a lot of passionate alumni who are willing to support the program and help out their local chapter." Speakers at the dinner included Powers, whom the chapter honored with the first-ever "No. 1 President" bronzed Longhorn trophy; Texas Exes President Kay Bailey Hutchison, LLB ’67, BA ’92, Life Member, Distinguished Alumna; and Forty Acres Scholar Katherine Allen, a freshman Plan II  major. Earlier this year, Duchin spoke with the Alcalde about spearheading a complete overhaul of the annual dinner's format, which has increased attendance, donations, and anticipation of the event. “Now it has a purpose,” Duchin said. “Now it has legs and strong supporters. It’s probably the biggest thing I am proud of.” Above: Current and former chapter board members and Texas Exes staff at the 2014 scholarship dinner honoring Rex Tillerson. Photo by David Duchin / DSPN Photos

"This Scholarship Set Me Free": Highlights from the 2014 Scholarship Dinners

The powerhouse Texas Exes scholarship program broke its own record yet again this year, awarding a mind-boggling $3.1 million to 675 students. And last week, all of those students and their donors were invited to break bread together at three dinners: one each for named scholarships (Sept. 3), the Forty Acres Scholars Program (Sept. 4), and chapter scholarships (Aug. 28). In total, 750 people attended. Hosting dinner for 750 is no mean feat, and every year Texas Exes staff members, volunteers, and the team at Rosemary's Catering put in extra work to make it happen. All the hard work is worth it when scholarship recipients and donors get to meet for the first time, says scholarships coordinator Tiffany Gonzales. "What I love about the dinners is getting to see the students and donors interact," Gonzales says. "The chance to put a face to a name and see a legacy being built means a lot." At each dinner, students, donors, and UT administrators all spoke about the role Texas Exes scholarships have played in their lives. At the chapter dinner, Dallas Chapter scholarship recipient Charles Gee told the crowd ,"This scholarship made me feel proud. It made me feel accomplished, it made me feel like I could finally be set free and do what was destined for me to do." The list of speakers also included Dean of Undergraduate Studies Brent Iverson, Texas Exes CEO and Executive Director Leslie Cedar, Provost Greg Fenves, and many more. Photo by Jose Lozano

"This Scholarship Set Me Free": Highlights from the 2014 Scholarship Dinners

The powerhouse Texas Exes scholarship program broke its own record yet again this year, awarding a mind-boggling $3.1 million to 675 students. And last week, all of those students and their donors were invited to break bread together at three dinners: one each for named scholarships (Sept. 3), the Forty Acres Scholars Program (Sept. 4), and chapter scholarships (Aug. 28). In total, 750 people attended. Hosting dinner for 750 is no mean feat, and every year Texas Exes staff members, volunteers, and the team at Rosemary's Catering put in extra work to make it happen. All the hard work is worth it when scholarship recipients and donors get to meet for the first time, says scholarships coordinator Tiffany Gonzales. "What I love about the dinners is getting to see the students and donors interact," Gonzales says. "The chance to put a face to a name and see a legacy being built means a lot." At each dinner, students, donors, and UT administrators all spoke about the role Texas Exes scholarships have played in their lives. At the chapter dinner, Dallas Chapter scholarship recipient Charles Gee told the crowd ,"This scholarship made me feel proud. It made me feel accomplished, it made me feel like I could finally be set free and do what was destined for me to do." The list of speakers also included Dean of Undergraduate Studies Brent Iverson, Texas Exes CEO and Executive Director Leslie Cedar, Provost Greg Fenves, and many more. Photo by Jose Lozano

"This Scholarship Set Me Free": Highlights from the 2014 Scholarship Dinners

The powerhouse Texas Exes scholarship program broke its own record yet again this year, awarding a mind-boggling $3.1 million to 675 students. And last week, all of those students and their donors were invited to break bread together at three dinners: one each for named scholarships (Sept. 3), the Forty Acres Scholars Program (Sept. 4), and chapter scholarships (Aug. 28). In total, 750 people attended. Hosting dinner for 750 is no mean feat, and every year Texas Exes staff members, volunteers, and the team at Rosemary's Catering put in extra work to make it happen. All the hard work is worth it when scholarship recipients and donors get to meet for the first time, says scholarships coordinator Tiffany Gonzales. "What I love about the dinners is getting to see the students and donors interact," Gonzales says. "The chance to put a face to a name and see a legacy being built means a lot." At each dinner, students, donors, and UT administrators all spoke about the role Texas Exes scholarships have played in their lives. At the chapter dinner, Dallas Chapter scholarship recipient Charles Gee told the crowd ,"This scholarship made me feel proud. It made me feel accomplished, it made me feel like I could finally be set free and do what was destined for me to do." The list of speakers also included Dean of Undergraduate Studies Brent Iverson, Texas Exes CEO and Executive Director Leslie Cedar, Provost Greg Fenves, and many more. Photo by Jose Lozano

New Application Process for All Scholarships Administered by the Texas Exes

There is a new application process for all scholarships administered by the Texas Exes. In the past, all entering freshmen were automatically considered for Texas Exes scholarships by simply applying for admission to UT using the ApplyTexas application. Current students were considered after completing a scholarship application through the Office of Student Financial Services. The new, separate scholarship process opens today for entering freshmen. All applications must be received by Dec. 1, 2014. Students will automatically be applying for the Chapter and Named Scholarships for which they qualify—no further action is needed. In order to apply for the Forty Acres Scholars Program, students must click the “Apply” button and complete an additional essay. The application for current UT students opens in early January 2015, and the deadline is March 1, 2015. For more information on how to apply, click here.

New Application Process for All Scholarships Administered by the Texas Exes

There is a new application process for all scholarships administered by the Texas Exes. In the past, all entering freshmen were automatically considered for Texas Exes scholarships by simply applying for admission to UT using the ApplyTexas application. Current students were considered after completing a scholarship application through the Office of Student Financial Services. The new, separate scholarship process opens today for entering freshmen. All applications must be received by Dec. 1, 2014. Students will automatically be applying for the Chapter and Named Scholarships for which they qualify—no further action is needed. In order to apply for the Forty Acres Scholars Program, students must click the “Apply” button and complete an additional essay. The application for current UT students opens in early January 2015, and the deadline is March 1, 2015. For more information on how to apply, click here.

New Application Process for All Scholarships Administered by the Texas Exes

There is a new application process for all scholarships administered by the Texas Exes. In the past, all entering freshmen were automatically considered for Texas Exes scholarships by simply applying for admission to UT using the ApplyTexas application. Current students were considered after completing a scholarship application through the Office of Student Financial Services. The new, separate scholarship process opens today for entering freshmen. All applications must be received by Dec. 1, 2014. Students will automatically be applying for the Chapter and Named Scholarships for which they qualify—no further action is needed. In order to apply for the Forty Acres Scholars Program, students must click the “Apply” button and complete an additional essay. The application for current UT students opens in early January 2015, and the deadline is March 1, 2015. For more information on how to apply, click here.

Texas Exes Awards Record $3.1 Million in Scholarships to UT Students [Infographic]

Texas Exes Awards Record $3.1 Million in Scholarships to UT Students [Infographic]

Texas Exes Awards Record $3.1 Million in Scholarships to UT Students [Infographic]

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