One benchmark of a great research university is its membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities. And Texas was invited in 1929. Another benchmark is how much in research grants, a university attracts and UT attracts nearly $800 million every year. Jazzalyn a biology major is gonna tell us more about what it means to be a research university. Take it away.
– Thank you so much, Alex. When I first came to UT, I knew I wanted to do research, but I had absolutely no experience. I was nervous at first, but that’s when I found the Freshman Research Initiative. The Freshman Research Initiative is the nation’s largest undergraduate research program. After learning all my basic lab techniques during my first semester in the program, my confidence in my abilities grew, and I began conducting research on degrading plastic. I collaborated with a small group of researchers, worked with fungi, bacteria and even meal worms to degrade plastic. I love being able interact with fellow researchers, and since then, I’ve been able to give back to my lab through serving as a mentor and teaching assistant. In addition through my research, I’ve had so many unique opportunities. Such as summer fellowships, like the Inventors Program, poster presentations and research workshops. With the Freshman Research Initiative, you’re able to pick from up to 29 research streams. So whether your passion is biology or physics, there’s a lab here for everyone. Being a part of a program that can change the world truly makes me proud to be a Longhorn. When I first came to the university, I had no idea how far I would come with research. I’ve learned so much, not only about how to conduct research, but other really important lessons too. Like communication, leadership and teamwork. Research has become a real passion of mine and I plan to continue in the future. So that’s my story. Back to you, Alex.
– Well said Jazzalyn. And one more thing, research done at UT was key to developing vaccines against COVID-19. Talk about having a big impact on the world. That’s amazing. Take care.
UT is a first class public university. What does that mean exactly? It means they offer a first class education, opportunities for students at every level to do research at a Tier 1 University. And they produce alumni that are leaders in virtually every field. All while being affordable. Tea a radio television film liberal arts double major is gonna share some of the ways UT supports students through their academic journey.
– Thanks Alex. I still remember first time I toured the 40 acres. I was overwhelmed with the possibilities at my fingertips as a Longhorn. UT is truly a first class university from the library resources and research opportunities to the endless ways that students can get involved. I came to UT Austin as an international relations major, and I quickly found my way to Moody College of Communication. I’m so fortunate to have a full ride scholarship through the Dedman Distinguished Scholars Program, which is one of the largest endowments here at UT. This scholarship has granted me the financial freedom to truly explore what’s authentic for me. I’ve been able to take so many classes with professors who are passionate about the subjects they teach, which in turn inspires me. The staff and faculty at UT are always willing to help students. And if they don’t have an answer for you, they’re gonna connect you to someone who does. I’m so grateful that I’m able to explore my interests with the liberal arts, with my love for creative projects. I’ve even been able to edit raw footage from an Emmy winning TV show. Centers around campus offer free tutoring, writing assistance and career services. which is great if you’re looking for an internship. Experiences in Longhorn are truly invaluable. There’s something here for everyone with over 170 fields of study for students to explore. For me, the most meaningful experience has been working as a teaching assistant on campus. When I’m working in assisting students. I remember how grateful I am to be burnt orange. It’s true, what starts here, changes the world. That’s it from me. Thanks Alex. Hook’em.
– Congratulations Tea on being a Dedman Distinguished Scholar. It’s so cool that you’ve been able to explore your passions and take advantage of so many opportunities. That’s really what college is all about. That was great. Thanks again.
Okay, everyone. Now we’re gonna zoom out a bit and take a look at the amazing city of Austin. Consistently ranked as a top place to live in the US. Austin is a hub for government, technology and education with endless opportunities and adventures. Rylan, a civil engineering major is gonna tell us how living in Austin has made his college experience so memorable. Rylan you’re on.
– Thanks Alex. Welcome y’all. Being from Austin, I always imagined I’d have to leave my city to find my college adventure. Little did I know I was just minutes away from the most incredible university. One that I’m now lucky enough to call my home. The city of Austin boasts an incredible outdoor lifestyle. Lady Bird Lake, which is part of the Colorado River runs straight through downtown and is surrounded by trails. It’s a great place to hike, bike, run, kayak, paddle board, or take my dog for a walk. Here in Austin we’ve earned the title, Live Music Capital of the World. There’s never a shortage of venues and concerts to enjoy. Whether it’s on South Congress, 6th Street or Zilker Park, I never shy away from an opportunity to enjoy some incredible new food and artists. My favorite part about Austin is our amazing annual events. ACL Festival hosts world class bands in a two week long festival that has definitely been a highlight during my time here. Looking for something a little faster pace? Circuit of the Americas is the only Formula 1 track in the United States. And it’s just a quick drive from campus. With the 40 acres being only a couple of blocks from the State Capitol building, it can be hard to see where campus ends and the rest of the city begins. Central Austin’s wide array of restaurants, study spots and attractions are all easily accessible. Because of how I’ve grown to love this city, I got involved with Texas Wranglers. A campus organization that’s given me the opportunity to give back to the city I’ve gained so much from. We work with Easterseals of Central Texas, a Non-Profit organization, which directly helps underprivileged individuals with physical and occupational rehabilitation. Through my work I’ve gotten to meet inspiring people who have overcome extreme hardship, making me even more proud of the people who call Austin home. Thanks Alex. Back to you.
– Thanks, Rylan. Giving back to the community that you love is extremely admirable. It seems like there’s really something for everyone to enjoy here. And if your to-do list wasn’t long enough already, Austin is also home to the annual South by Southwest Conference, which celebrates the convergence of tech film and music industries. it’s definitely worth checking out. Thanks again.
Speaking of leaving an impression, we’re turning now to a Psychology and Theater major that got involved in several main stage productions as early as their freshman year at Valpo. It’s time to meet Mary. Now, a sophomore, who’s taking the initiative to have a full, exciting student experience. She’s proving that if you want something here at Valpo, you should simply go for it.
– Thanks Alex. I’m a current sophomore here at Valparaiso University, studying psychology and theater on a pre occupational therapy track. When I first arrived, Valpo welcomes me with open arms. Valpo’s campus size allows students to take initiative and the organizations that they are passionate about starting in their first semester on campus. From ministry teams, music ensembles, improv troupes, fraternity, and sorority life, and more, Valpo has something for everyone. As a theater lover, I was excited to get involved in several main stage productions as a freshmen. I’ve also been playing the trumpet for the last 10 years, which has always been a big part of my life. Here at Valpo, I can pursue that passion through performing in several of our capstone music ensembles, despite not being a music major or minor myself. This allows me to grow as a musician and connect with others who share my love for music. Here at Valpo, students can take ownership of their learning experiences and have many directions to go in. From our Core first-year program to Christ College, the Honors College. As a member of Christ College, I participated in one of the oldest traditions on campus, the freshmen production. This is a challenge put out to all first year honors college students to write, produce and perform a full-scale musical from scratch in just 10 weeks. From script writer to musician, there is a role in the production that requires every student’s skills. In the end, we all came together and created a production to be proud of. Valpo’s opportunities, such as these, allow me to not only build leadership and collaborative skills, but also give me the opportunity to take initiative in my own learning experiences while doing what I love. Back to you, Alex.
– Putting together a full length musical in just eight weeks, now, that’s something amazing. Mary, thank you for sharing that around here at Valpo, you don’t have to dream it, you can just do it. Take care.
Did you know the Valpo is ranked nationally for its engineering program and offers six different engineering disciplines. 2000 graduate Luke, saw life come full circle when he went on to get his PhD and then become a professor at Valpo. So all the research that he began as a student, he’s now able to carry it on with his students. It’s been life-changing. Luke, go ahead and tell us more.
– Thanks for the chance to share my story, Alex. I knew that I wanted to become a professor at a school like Valpo after I finished my PhD, because I had such an incredible experience here as a student. So to actually be a professor is a dream come true. Why was I so excited to come back and join the faculty at Valpo? For the chance to replicate my own Valpo experience, conducting cutting edge solar energy research as an undergraduate student. As a student, I worked with one of my professors for over a year, researching ways to turn concentrated sunlight into fuels that we could use to drive our cars, even at night when the sun is not shining. Because of the mentorship of my professor, pursuing this research became one of my greatest passions. I feel blessed to be able to share this passion with talented Valpo students in the James S Markowitz Solar Energy Research Facility, home of one of five solar furnaces in the United States. And the only one located at a primarily undergraduate engineering college. One of the most rewarding parts of conducting research with undergraduate students is seeing how excited they get when they experience concentrated sunlight for the first time. I love knowing that this experience could be life-changing for them and set them on a new career path. The coolest thing about my story is that it is not unique. There are many other professors here at Valpo with stories just like mine. We all came back to be professors at Valpo because this is such an incredible place. Well, that’s my story, Alex. It’s all yours.
– How cool Luke, that there is such a collaborative spirit between the professors and students at Valpo. And also great to know that the community here left such an impression that you came back. Thanks again for that.
Our tour of Valpo is almost done, but we still have one very important person to hear from. And that’s president Jose Padilla. He’s not just a figurehead, he’s actively involved in campus life and invested in each student’s success. You can say the same about his entire faculty. President Padilla, the floor is all yours.
– Thanks, Alex. I came here to be part of a great academic university where learning and our faith in God make us better persons, neighbors, and citizens. Valpo is a great Lutheran university, but it’s open to all beliefs and religions. They welcomed me as its first Catholic and Mexican American President ever. At Valpo were small yet mighty. Our intimate size will prevent you from falling through the cracks. You’ll get the attention and respect that you deserve. You’ll be the top priority of our dedicated faculty and staff. Now, Valpo may not be the place for somebody who wants to coast because here we’re gonna make you break a sweat. We’re gonna push you to do things you never thought you could do. Things otherwise you’d have to wait for until graduate school or your first job. For example, doing cutting edge research in our nationally ranked College of Engineering, being accepted as a freshmen and our Physician’s Assistant Program, to advocating before Congress. I had a junior in political science help me write letters to Congress. Now I’m a former lobbyist and her letters were among the best I’ve ever seen. At Valpo we build you for speed so that in your first job, you’re not just along for the ride, you’re the driver. You’re not just the ripple, you’re the splash. You’re not just the echo, you’re the one busting through the sound barrier. We also build you to be servant leaders. Our excellent academic programs will give you the wisdom to put your faith into practice. You’ll not only have a career for life, but a life where the value of others exceeds the value of your paycheck. At Valpo, where beacons that will show you the way so that once you graduate, you’re gonna show others the way. Back to you, Alex.
– Thanks so much, President Padilla. Based on what you said and everyone we’ve talked to on our tour today, this really is a small but mighty school. A place where you can be part of something bigger, where you can build connections for life and make an impact from day one. We really appreciate you sharing that. Well, this tour has flown by, right? And I’ll be honest, it’s a tour I won’t forget. Who else is inspired by Valparaiso University? I wanna thank the incredible students, alumni and President Padilla who gave their time today. And as you can see, everyone has something unique and personal to share, but there’s something to picking up on in each story, an awesome sense of community and energy. Hopefully soon, you’ll get a chance to tour Valpo for yourself, until then, please check out their website to get more information. This is one of those schools you’ll definitely wanna keep on your radar. Hopefully we’ll see on campus real soon. Cheers everybody.
Okay, to wrap things up, we’re gonna take a short trip off campus, and meet up with Hayden. He’s a senior majoring in animal dairy and veterinary sciences, so we’re gonna meet him at Utah State’s Animal Science Farm to learn about some of the state-of-the-art technology and real-world research happening right here. Hayden, you’re on!
– Hey guys, I’m Hayden. When I was a senior in high school, picking a college seemed like a really daunting task. I was torn between several different schools, but after touring Utah State and seeing all they had to offer, the choice became pretty clear. USU is tucked away in Northern Utah’s beautiful Cache Valley and offers a first class education in a small, tight-knit community. What really drew me to USU though, was the school farms. As a student in the College of Agriculture and Applied Science, I spent a lot of time here. Located just 15 minutes south of campus, is the USU South Farm Equine Center and Caine Dairy. The South Farm is made up of the Sam Skaggs Equine Facility, and the Hillyard building, where some of the vet classes are located. It’s also home to the university’s cattle, sheep, goats, and swine. USU began as Utah State Agricultural College, and our programs are still on the leading edge of agricultural technology. For example, we’re one of the only universities that have a completely robotic dairy. At the same time, students here get really hands-on, or as we like to say, hands-in approach to learning. Whether that’d be from labs and classes taught out here on the farm, or by participating in groundbreaking research. Some of my most memorable experiences came from a class I was hesitant to take. I’d never really been interested in the swine industry, but after building a relationship with my professor in class, he recommended I take a swine production course. In that course, I was able to process food for piglets, learn about the industry, and artificially inseminate and farrow out of south. That’s what it’s called when pigs have their litter. This class showed me the importance of branching out of my comfort zone, and really piqued my interest in the industry. As a land grant university for the state, USU has tons of opportunities for undergraduates to get involved in research that makes a real impact. Some current student research projects include searching for microbes that will help crops tolerate a higher soil salinity, or improving animal nutrition to help livestock producers save money and protect the environment. Even if you’re not agricultural or animal-focused like I am, there are so many topics that can be studied within the college’s broad range of emphasis. It is the College of Ag and Applied Sciences. From aviation to landscape architecture, environmental planning to outdoor product design, or applied economics to plant science, it’s easy to explore your personal passion. Thanks for letting me share just a little bit about Utah State and my experiences here. Now back to you, Alex.
– Hayden, you’ve opened our eyes to what high-tech farming in agriculture have become. And what of the amazing variety of programs available at Utah State, it’s absolutely incredible. Thanks for showing us something out of the ordinary. Take care!
Students at UT are innovators, problem solvers, artists and leaders. So many of the great things that UT have been created by students. This is really a place where you can make a difference. Kiara a government major is gonna tell us about all the way she’s made an impact here on campus. You’re on Kiara.
– Thanks Alex. Hi, y’all. My name is Kiara Kabbara and I am the Senior Body President here at The University of Texas at Austin, where I am a senior government major with a double minor in business and entrepreneurship at the wonderful McCombs School of Business, where we are number in the nation for undergraduate studies. My business professors inspired me to host my own event, the lounge. Held in 2019, the lounge provided a platform for Black student entrepreneurs to spotlight their business as well as a space for student athletes to engage with the student body. We also awarded two college scholarships to high school seniors through my Non-Profit ballout with funds from the lounge raffle. While my minor is in business and entrepreneurship, as a government major, I aspire to follow in the footsteps of wonderful women like Stacey Abrams, Lady Bird Johnson and of course the wonderful Barbara Jordan and they all aspired me to become the second African-American woman Student Body President here at The University of Texas at Austin. Before I became student body president, I worked tirelessly my junior year to bring back the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People UT Austin chapter. The NAACP at UT has grown to more than 100 members in less than two years. And the chapter now gives student athletes a platform and the opportunity to sit on the executive board. I have felt so blessed to spend the last four years here on the 40 acres. UT Austin has brought me lifelong friendships, inspiring mentors and the tools to change the world. I know wherever I go, my Longhorn family will be with me. Hook’em. And back to you Alex.
– Awesome job Kiara. You’ve accomplished so much here. It’s really inspiring to see the drive UT students have in persuing their goals and helping the university community flourish. That story was amazing. Take care.
Now it is time to get your horns up. The Longhorns have won 58 national championships and counting and Texas fans are some of the most spirited fans out there. Christian, a theater and dance major is gonna tell us what, how having Longhorn spirit is all about. It’s all you Christian.
– I appreciate that Alex. And what’s up to the people at home. I’ve known since I was three years old that I wanted to be an entertainer. Whether that I was acting, dancing or singing, I just knew I needed a place where I can explore it all. UT is the perfect home to pursue my various interests. As a theater major, I’ve been able to act in award-winning student films. And I was also able to fully dive into my musical side using the university’s fully equipped recording studio. Which eventually led to me opening up for the DJ duo, the Lost Kings. If there’s anything you need to know about UT it’s that we love our sports. The culture around athletics was so exciting that I decided that I wanted to be a part of it. Becoming a marketing intern with Texas Athletics has allowed me to learn about the business and the marketing side of sports. While also curating a welcoming environment for Texas fans all over. On almost any night, you can catch one of the many amazing UT sporting events. And I guarantee if you weren’t before you’ll be a fan by the end of the game. Longhorns know how to celebrate and show their spirit. Every home football game we have a huge parade with rides, our legendary cheer and pom squads, our mascots Bevo, Hook’Em and we got food and music on top of that. Coming to college, I really had the opportunity to explore all aspects of myself and chase my passions. Our slogan here is, what starts here, changes the world. And though my journey here is coming to an end. I guarantee this won’t be the last time you hear my name. See you soon and back to you Alex.
– Let’s go Texas.
– Thank you, Christian. Can’t wait to see everything you accomplish. So, UT has a unique tradition, for notable athletic achievements like conference or national championships, as well as academic accomplishments. The iconic tower is lit orange in celebration of those victories. And this thing can be seen from miles and miles away. It is a sight to see. Okay Christian, thanks again. Take care.
It’s no secret that Longhorns love to do the Hook’em horns hand sign. I’m pretty sure this hand sign is recognizable all over the world. That’s because there are Longhorn alums everywhere supporting each other long after they leave the 40 acres. Critica a corporate communication and advertising double major is gonna tell us about her experience connecting with Longhorn Nation.
– Thanks Alex for that great introduction. Hey, y’all, how’s it going? So ever since high school, I always is knew I wanted to come to UT. Not only was it close to home, but what really drew me here was its culture, its diversity and its opportunities even after you graduate. I love how UT has given me the opportunity to create connections, to help me in my academics and career. I’ve had the opportunity to attend panels with alumni, learn about their experiences after graduation and the steps they took in order to achieve their success. Listening to these panels inspired me as they were in the same position as I am. Like them, I can achieve great things too. UT has an amazing alumni network with over 540,000 Longhorn spread across the world. With social networks, such as HookedIn, I can stay connected to Longhorn Nation and find opportunities that other alums may have for me. Together we can share our talents and resources and change lives. Once I graduate, I’m looking forward to joining Texas Exes, our alumni association, and continuing to celebrate the Longhorn spirit and support future Longhorns even after leaving the 40 acres. When I first started college, I did not think I would be able to learn and grow so much. UT has changed my perspective on so many things and has motivated me to become a better student. I thought it was just UT slogan, but students here really change these words into actions. What starts here, really does change the world. Hook’em. That’s all from me. Back to you Alex.
– Thank you Critica. It’s great to hear how passionate Longhorns are about helping each other out. We have seen that the entire time we’ve been on campus. Thank you so much for sharing your story.