Mark Mikhaeil is a UT senior studying mechanical engineering and the recipient of the Beverly R. and Jack P. Randall Family Challenge Grant. Mikhaeil was a featured speaker at this year's Texas Exes Named Scholarships Dinner, which was held last week at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center. The following is a transcript of his remarks.

On behalf of all the students here tonight, I want to thank all of the donors who took the time to come tonight and build a connection with their scholarship recipients. I also want to extend that thank you to the Texas Exes—and especially to the scholarships organization—not just because they’re feeding me the best dinner I’ve had in two weeks, but because they’ve given me and the other students present today the opportunity to meet people who care enough about our education that they have invested their own livelihood into it.

Tiffany Gonzales, the scholarships coordinator for the Texas Exes, asked me to speak briefly tonight about my experience and the impact the scholarship has had on my education. That includes my relationship with my donors, Mr. Jack and Mrs. Beverly Randall, who are honestly the reason why I have succeeded here at the University.

I’m a native Texan. I was born and raised in Houston. My mother and father were both Egyptians, and they both went to university there. My father studied engineering, and my mother studied pharmacy. When I decided to major in mechanical engineering, my mom said, “I guess I lost the battle." Four years later, when my younger brother also wanted to do engineering, my dad told her, “I guess you lost the war."

When I was considering universities, I knew that UT would give me the most prestigious education that I could receive. It was my first choice by a large margin. Besides the quality of education here, I was smitten by the beauty of the campus and the Austin lifestyle. My parents, however, were not so infatuated. They were actually convinced that I should go to Texas A&M. From their perspective, they couldn’t understand why they should pay more for tuition and cost of living at UT when they could pay less for a similar quality education elsewhere. At the time, Texas A&M was also giving me a very large scholarship opportunity, and I could see their reasoning—so I bit my tongue and agreed with them. I didn’t want to burden them or myself with student loans. We decided that, unless I could find a way to ease the financial yoke, I would take the offer from Texas A&M.

I will never forget the afternoon I received the email from the Texas Exes saying I had been awarded the scholarship. I had been playing chess and other board games with my friends that day. I’m sure I must have seemed like an idiot, because no matter how badly I was losing, I had this massive grin on my face. I knew that scholarship would be my saving grace. It was the golden ticket that allowed me to go to The University of Texas without the fear of burdening my family financially.

[pullquote]The Randalls had strong faith—almost conviction—in my success, and that gave me untold confidence. They reminded me that I had already come so far in being accepted to the engineering program at UT.[/pullquote]

When I actually arrived at UT, I was greeted by a different worry. I felt the way I’m sure most of the freshmen here are feeling today, and I can sum up that feeling in a single word: lost. My classes were challenging, and my colleagues were competitive. There were job fairs, internships, and research and leadership opportunities. A lot of people were trying to reach the same goals, and I was terrified that I would just be another face in the crowd. That terror was shattered when I came to the Named Scholarship Dinner my freshman year and met Mr. and Mrs. Randall. That night, they gave me a gift that I value much more than any donation: this tie. After that dinner, the Randalls handed me this burnt-orange tie, folded in a burnt-orange gift box, and told me, "We’re expecting great things from you." That dinner three years ago in this very hall changed my attitude towards myself and my purpose here at the University, and this tie is the emblem of that new mindset.

The Randalls had strong faith—almost conviction—in my success, and that gave me untold confidence. They reminded me that I had already come so far in being accepted to the engineering program at UT. They were completely confident that I would triumph, and their assuredness gave me the ability to stride through my classes with aplomb.

Not only did their confidence rub off on me, but they imparted to me a strong expectation for excellence. I knew that I wasn’t obligated to their generosity. If I wanted them to stay committed to my success at UT, I would have to be equally committed to meeting their expectations. I struggled, and I fought, knowing that I had the hopes of the Randalls behind me.

These two pillars—confidence and responsibility—given to me by my donors are what I’ve built my success upon. This tie is my reminder of those two principles. I’ve worn it to every job interview, every first day of an internship, and every poster presentation (including the ones I give at A&M). On the days it doesn’t fit the dress code, I stash it in a coat pocket. Every time I wear it, I remember that I represent the hopes of the Randalls, my family, and this great University. If I’m nervous, I tighten up, adjust the tie, and tell myself the words the Randalls told me: “We’re expecting great things from you."

The ideas this tie represents are what have built me up. They have allowed me to toil in my internships and research projects. They have inspired me to serve the University through tutoring, grading, and joining service organizations. And they are the same principles that I recommend to every student sitting here today.

I want you to look at your donor—if he or she is sitting with you at the table today—and remember your responsibility to that person. We never cease to hear the famous words, “The Eyes of Texas are upon you." They serve as a constant reminder that each student carries the duty of meeting expectations, both inside and outside the classroom. Remember those responsibilities and you will not fail.

Also, never forget the faith that your donors have in you. They have extended their generosity to you because they know that you can rise to meet whatever challenge faces you. Let their conviction be your confidence, and hold onto that confidence even in your darkest hours.

Upon those two pillars, confidence and responsibility, you will be able to build for yourself whatever it is that you dream of. And your donors, like my own, and like my tie, should serve as an eternal token of those ideas.

Above: Mikhaeil speaking at the 2013 Named Scholarship Dinner.

Photo by Matt Valentine.