The Forty Acres Scholars Program is proud to announce the 52 finalists for the Class of 2028. Admissions invited around 1,300 students to apply. Out of the 850 applications received, 120 semifinalists were chosen to advance to a video interview. 

This year’s finalists come from six U.S. states and have been admitted to eight different schools and colleges across the University. Many of them participate in nationally recognized organizations and competitions such as DECA and UIL. Many are also valedictorians, athletes, team captains, musicians, and student body presidents. Some are founders of nonprofits, school organizations, and online platforms; published authors; business owners; and researchers. They spend their time participating in countless hours of community service, leading clubs and organizations in their schools, and interning across the nation.  

From February 29 to March 2, 2024, these exceptional high school students will join us on campus to participate in Finalist Weekend. Activities will include visits with their admitted colleges, a mock class with a UT professor, campus and college tours, panels with current Forty Acres Scholars, optional daily activities, and an individual interview.  

The Forty Acres Scholars Program inspires and nurtures visionary leaders and helps them use their talents to benefit society. Our scholars demonstrate intellectual curiosity and a track record of outstanding academic success. Most importantly, they have passion and a desire to live out the core values of The University of Texas at Austin. The three tenets of the program are community, connection, and discovery. The program is a transformational adventure that helps individuals reach their full potential, and, alongside academic achievement, focuses on personal development, relationship building, and gaining perspective. In the only program of its kind administered by an alumni association, Forty Acres Scholars develop a unique relationship with their alma mater and graduate with an extraordinary network of Longhorns standing behind them.   

Scholarship funding provides for tuition, a living stipend, a book stipend, an enrichment stipend, and program activities.  

Meet the finalists:

Ashley Abrahams   

Prosper High School 
Prosper, Texas 

 

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Anjum Alam 

Lone Star College System
Houston, Texas 

 

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Anna Kate Albritton

Highland Park High School 
Dallas, Texas 

 

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Astrid Allen  

Kinder High School for the Performing & Visual Arts  
Houston, Texas 

 

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Myshae Allen  

Central High School 
San Angelo, Texas 

 

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Awas Amin  

Carroll Senior High School   
Southlake, Texas 

 

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Nnenna Anyadiegwu  

Trinity Valley School  
Fort Worth, Texas

 

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Alison Beanblossom   

New Trier High School  
Winnetka, Illinois

 

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Nicole Beres   

Carroll Senior High School  
Southlake, Texas 

 

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Peyton Bono  

Highland Park High School   
Dallas, Texas 

 

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Emma Corbell  

Lone Star High School 
Frisco, Texas 

 

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Blair Davis   

St. John's School  
Houston, Texas 

 

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Matthew Freel   

Kingwood High School
Kingwood, Texas 

 

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Rithvik Gabri  

Cistercian Preparatory School  
Irving, Texas 

 

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Catherin Guerra  

Grulla High School 
Rio Grande City, Texas 

 

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Rishi Hariharaprasad   

Louis D. Brandeis High School  
San Antonio, Texas

 

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Alexander Hernandez    

Energy Institute High School 
Houston, Texas 

 

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Dabeluchi Isiofia   

Veterans Memorial High School  
Corpus Christi, Texas 

 

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Lindsey Karkowsky  

The Kinkaid School  
Houston, Texas 

 

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Lucy Katz   

Episcopal High School  
Houston, Texas 

 

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Sanjana Kavula  

Emerson High School  
McKinney, Texas

 

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Rizwan Khan 

Plano West Senior High School 
Plano, Texas 

 

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Walton Kunu  

The Village High School  
Missouri City, Texas 

 

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Sophia Li  

Greenhill School  
Plano, Texas

 

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Eshaan Mani  

The Kinkaid School  
Sugar Land, Texas

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Varun Manickam  

Bellaire Senior High School  
Houston, Texas 

 

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Macy McAfee  

Stratford High School  
Houston, Texas 

 

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Anagha Menon  

Seven Lakes High School  
Katy, Texas

 

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Aubrey Menz  

Boerne High School  
Boerne, Texas

 

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Michael Murphy  

St. John's School 
Houston, Texas

 

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Grace Nelson  

Round Rock High School
Round Rock, Texas

 

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Michael O'Connor   

Saint Viator High School  
Arlington Heights, Illinois 

 

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Chioma Olorondu   

George Ranch High School  
Richmond, Texas 

 

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Eeshwar Parasuramuni   

Frisco High School
Frisco, Texas 

 

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Riley Pierce  

The Altamont School  
Vestavia, Alabama

 

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Trinity Power   

Frisco High School 
Frisco, Texas 

 

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Rohan Ralli   

Centennial High School  
Frisco, Texas 

 

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Nikhil Reddy  

Carroll Senior High School  
Keller, Texas 

 

 

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Akhil Samavedam   

Westlake High School  
Austin, Texas 

 

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Sandeep Sethuraman  

BASIS Chandler   
Chandler, Arizona

 

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Paisley Smith  

Cedar Creek High School  
Cedar Creek, Texas 

 

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Luke Sotelo   

Antonian College Preparatory High School 
San Antonio, Texas 

 

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Katie Szlauko   

Allan Hancock College  
Pismo Beach, California

 

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Chiamaka Uwalaka  

Carnegie Vanguard High School   
Houston, Texas 

 

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Prisha Vithalani  

Plano West Senior High School  
Plano, Texas 

 

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Landon Von Minden  

La Grange High School 
La Grange, Texas 

 

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Zachary Wagner  

Grassfield High School  
Chesapeake, Virginia 

 

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Kai Weaver  

Heights High School  
Houston, Texas 

 

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Andy Wei  

Stephen F. Austin High School  
Sugar Land, Texas 

 

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Kyle Xu  

Flour Bluff High School  
Corpus Christi, Texas 

 

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Jeannette Yang  

Greenhill School  
Frisco, Texas 

 

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Kathleen Yu   

Seven Lakes High School  
Katy, Texas 

 

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