Let’s hear from Ke’Sean, a sophomore nursing major from Woodville, Texas. UTA is home to one of the nation’s best wheelchair basketball programs and Ke’Sean is part of that team. The Movin’ Mavs and Lady Movin’ Mavs have combined for 12 national titles and placed numerous athletes on the US and international Paralympic teams. Ke’Sean, tell us more about these amazing teams.
– Mavs on three. One, two, three.
– [All] Mavs.
– Hey Alex, thank you for the introduction. Going up with a disability has always been a challenge, but I’ve always stayed active playing wheelchair basketball and track and field. Choosing a college separating from my twin and family was difficult, but I knew that UTA with both access for people with disabilities and the amazing nursing program was the perfect choice for me. UTA is one of the most diverse schools in the US and part because of its rich tradition of adaptive sports programs. It’s Movin’ Mavs and Lady Movin’ Mavs wheelchair basketball teams have combined to win 12 National Championships and produce numerous Paralympic athletes. What makes this even more special is that the program has given countless scholarships to student athletes with disabilities to help them achieve their academic goals as well. UT Arlington also has the Student Access and Resource Center that has a mission of service to all students with access needs that falls under the Americans With Disability Act. This center does far more than provide accommodations for people with physical disabilities. It also provides support for students with dyslexia, extra time on testing assignments or allowing service and emotional support animals and campus housing. UTA also offers a minor in disability studies, which explores the experience with people with disabilities, one of the largest minorities in the United States and worldwide. The program looks at disability as diversity and helps you dive into social, cultural and political perspectives. UTA adaptive programs continue to help me grow as a student and athlete. I’ve made lifelong memories with my classmates and teammates and learned from the best. With the support from my coaches and professors, I hope to play with Team USA and become a nurse practitioner. C-U-L-I-U-T-A and don’t forget to always Mav up. Back to you Alex Incredible, UTA is a proving ground for some of the best wheelchair basketball players, men or women in the world. And the school sees to it that all students receive appropriate accommodations. Good luck to you, Ke’Sean, we’re all rooting for you.
Say hi to Lauren, a high school salutatorian from nearby Bedford, Texas and now a junior Biology major. She has a love of criminal forensics and get this lights to light her hand on fire. As a UTA science ambassador, let Lauren show you how it’s done, and please do not try this at home.
– Thanks, Alex, and welcome to UTA. Graduating as the salutatorian for my high school class, I knew I wanted to attend a university that not only appreciated my efforts, but supported me as I moved on to the next chapter of my life. Luckily for me, UTA has not only met those expectations but exceeded them. UTA has given me so many valuable experiences that I know will help me pursue my dreams of becoming a forensic scientist. From fingerprinting exercises to running experiments in the lab, the coursework I’ve completed so far has only cemented my love of science and of UTA, and UTA STEM opportunities extend well beyond the campus. As a UTA Science ambassador, I work to inspire students grades three through 12 to pursue careers in science through fun and educational science demonstrations, from lab safety to making elephant toothpaste to lighting our hands on fire, the UTA Science ambassadors have performed more than 2000 shows for over 150,000 grade school students in our community since 2008. And UTA has other great ways to get involved on campus, such as with its annual big event that started in 2000. It’s a day of service led by students that some years have seen over 1,100 students donating over 4,000 hours of service to the community. These service and service learning initiatives give UTA Mavericks the chance to go out into the surrounding communities with a mission to transform and make a positive difference. UTA has made a lasting impact on so many lives, including mine. For me, UTA has given me the resources to pursue my dreams and ready myself for the future, while also inspiring the next generation of STEM students. I can’t wait to see what the rest of my time here has in store for me. That’s a wrap for me. Back to you, Alex.
– Great job Lauren. UTA’s commitment to its surrounding communities is changing hundreds of thousands of lives. It’s amazing to see how students making a difference, whether it’s cleaning up a park or inspiring a new generation of STEM students. Keep up the great work, amazing job.
Let’s hear from Niamh, a senior from Bluffdale, Texas getting her Bachelor of Fine Arts in performance. Niamh thought about making the jump from high school to the film industry, but came to UTA because she wanted more acting experience. What she found was a school that positioned her perfectly for the next steps in her career. Take it away.
– Thanks, Alex. Hey, everyone. Ever since I was little, I took a special interest in working in television and film. I was set on finishing high school and jumping right into the industry, but I knew I wasn’t ready yet, so I applied to some acting programs and UTA stuck out among the bunch. All thanks to the professors I met from the very start. I’m a part of the acting program here at UTA and it has given me so many amazing opportunities both in school as well as outta school. Many people I know have been able to work at local theaters in the DfW area and I myself have had the amazing opportunity to work on lots of local film sets. I know I can always rely on my professors when it comes to locating auditions, building my resume, and managing my brand. They’re some of the first people I talk to when I learned I booked something. UTA’s Performing Arts Department has given me the opportunity to find what really inspires me, whether it’s working tech or acting with Maverick Theater Company or directing shows with a theater arts teaching lab, and even choreographing with the Maverick Dance Company. We even have the opportunity to work in films with UTA’s outstanding film departments. In addition, there are lots of performance opportunities with Theater for Change, Theater Arts, Teaching Lab, and MAV Improv. With the vibrant theater and film life in DfW as well as across Texas, students at UTA are given the opportunity to work real-world industry experience, all while still taking classes. UTA’s Performing Arts Department has helped me in so many ways. I’m now more prepared than ever for what comes next. As I leave college and head into the world of theater and film, I cannot wait to see what comes next. Thanks for stopping by. Back to You, Alex
– And theme. One of UTA’s biggest advantages is its location which gives theater and film students countless opportunities to gain real-world industry experience while still learning from expert professors. That was awesome. Go break a leg out there, Neal.
Up next is Jorge who comes to UTA all the way from his hometown in El Paso, Texas. This mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering senior has one of the most impressive resumes you will ever see from a college student with internships at NASA, SpaceX and more. This is a maverick who is going places and one of them might be outer space.
– Thanks for the amazing intro, Alex. Born in El Paso, raised in Mexico, settling in Arlington, and wanting to be an astronaut. I knew UTA was the perfect place for me. Growing up, my grandpa had a huge influence on me with his passion for NASA, despite the fact that he had no formal education. To fulfill his vision, I chose UTA and pursued degrees in mechanical and biomedical engineering. I came to UTA because of its overall academic excellence and more specifically its world-class Engineering Department. Some of the real game changers for me were getting involved in student-led organizations such as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers where I served as President and the Mars Rover team where I served as Chief Engineer. At UTA’s College Work Experience Program I was able to land my first internship at Lockheed Martin. Through this opportunity, I was able to develop my engineering skills and land out of this world internships at NASA and SpaceX. During these internships, I’ve had the opportunity to work on projects that are riding human history such as NASA’s SLS, Artemis, Moon Rocket, and SpaceX’s Starship Rocket that will be returning humans to the moon and eventually to Mars. And none of this would’ve been possible without UTA. No matter your academic interests, UTA has a place for you. The university offers more than 180 degree programs across nine different departments, helping you choose your path to be a difference maker. From leadership retreats to the Honors College to study abroad programs, UTA will help you blast off your career. UTA has helped me achieve my lifelong dreams and has even prepared me to share my story at the White House and be a keynote speaker at the X-Ray Space Conference in London. I hate to end it, but I gotta run to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for another awesome internship. That’s it for me. Back to you, Alex.
– Incredible story, Jorge. Safe drive to Florida. UTA offers both a world-class education and a commitment to educating students from all backgrounds. It’s one of just twenty-one universities in the United States to receive designations as both a Hispanic serving institution and a Carnegie R1 classification for very high research activity. Thanks again, Jorge.
Next, let me introduce you to Charles. He’s a senior industrial engineering major and is part of the Champion Formula racing team right in the heart of the UTA campus. These mavericks feel the need for speed every year since 1982. Students with UTA Racing design and build a formula race car that competes in the International Formula SAE Racing Series against universities from across the globe. Earlier this week, I got the chance to hang out with Charles and learn all about it. Have a watch. How awesome is this, Charles? This is awesome.
– So Formula SAE for Society of Automotive Engineers, it is a student led design competition where the students actually get to build, design and actually raise a formula style car. So throughout UTA’s history and 1982 is when we built our first formula SAE car, and every year since we built a brand new one and in total 11 championship wins, three being in the UK, Japan, and Australia.
– Unbelievable man.
– Lemme go show you some more.
– Yeah, let’s do it. You all are building these formula cars from the ground up.
– Every year we start right here in this room designing each component from the ground up, putting it in CAD, just to see how the overall product’s gonna look before we actually manufacture it.
– I mean it, it looks so complicated, Charles, right?
– It’s very scary at first, my first week in this, I was terrified, but few years in now I’m the chief engineer. Everything’s just so clear to me and I feel like I can build anything.
– Incredible.
– You wanna go see the garage?
– Yeah, I’d love to. So how many students are part of this program?
– So we’ll get around 20 to 30 full team members every year, and what’s awesome about that is they’ll come from all sorts of different majors, engineering, nursing, arts, biochem, you name it, and they’re actually able to use all of these different backgrounds and implement them into a real life project, which is great.
– Yeah, and that’s kind of look great on the resume.
– It does, there’s not many organizations that allow you to apply what you learn into a classroom, into a real life company essentially. So this is amazing for students.
– That’s so cool.
– You wanna go see ’em run?
– I’d love to.
– Let’s go look.
– This has to be the coolest club at the University of Texas, Arlington.
– Yes, it’s yes,
– It’s awesome. Thank you, Charles for having me join you and the team here on campus. These cars are incredible and so is UTA Racing. Their team of student engineers and drivers is one of the most successful in the series history with eight US championships and three more abroad. This is the “Maverick Factor” in action. Thank you Charles for showing us around. That was absolutely incredible. Take care.
Another maverick with a great story is Courtney, a sophomore from Balch Springs, Texas, majoring in interdisciplinary studies. Courtney is Terry scholar, which is a scholarship program for students who demonstrate leadership, academic achievement, and financial need. Each year, UTA offers more than $500 million in financial aid and scholarships to help students achieve their academic dreams. Take it away, Courtney. ♪ Huh huh huh huh ♪ ♪ Huh huh huh huh ♪
– Thanks Alex, and hello everyone. Like any other graduating senior from high school, I was concerned about the college life, how I would afford to attend, could I find my people and would I be accepted? Then I received a full ride scholarship to UTA through the Terry Foundation, which opened the doors to my success and a meaningful freshman experience. The Terry Foundation is the largest scholarship provider in the state of Texas, impacting over 500,000 scholars and their families since 1987. The key tenets of the foundation are leadership and service. We make it our priority to give back. Through the annual UTA Terry Toy Drive, I helped raise nearly $2,600 for 1500 impoverished children in the Arlington community. It was moments like these that brought meaning to my freshman year, and the friendships that I made through the foundation are something that I will always cherish. Coming to UTA has been a great decision for me. My professors showed that they are invested in my professional and personal development and gives me assurance that I belong here, which makes me feel seen and welcomed. Now let’s talk about food. I love, love, love to eat, and here at UTA, our dining services are inclusive to all. One of my favorite spots to eat at is the Connection Cafe in the University Center where one of our chefs hosts a teaching kitchen where students can build their own entree and learn about the history behind the dish they are making. Now to burn off extra calories, I go to the Maverick Activity Center, which has everything from 90 plus pieces of cardio equipment, four circuit training units, and a free weight area all the way to a 25 yard indoor pool, and much more. A typical day in the Mac with me starts with cardio, then weightlifting. You know, a brother has to stay strong. I know that I am in great hands and will achieve great things at UTA, and I can’t wait to explore everything else UTA has to offer. That’s it for me. Take it away, Alex. Oh, and let me know if you wanna grab some tacos afterwards. I’m always down the eat.
– Great story Courtney, future mavericks. Make sure to look into the Blaze Forward program, which covers the full cost of your tuition and course fees for students who meet all eligibility requirements, including if your family yearly income is less than $85,000. Blaze Forward is making college more affordable for more than 4,000 UTA students each year. Unbelievable. Thanks again, Courtney.
Let’s hear from Iman. She’s an architecture major from Frisco, Texas who thinks that architecture isn’t just about designing buildings, but about creating art. She also is an avid explorer of UTA’s 420 acres and a 100 campus buildings, and wants to share with us some of our favorite spots. Take us on a tour Iman.
– Thanks Alex, what’s up y’all? When I was a senior in high school looking for colleges, it was essential that I found a school that had a unique environment, fostering growth and human connection. When I toured UTA, I found just that in every corner of campus. As an architecture student, I’ve always had an interest in creativity and problem solving. UTA’s College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs, CAPPA for short, has a curriculum that helps students interested in the field further develop their passion into a skill and a career. With a strong focus on design, I was able to begin thinking about architecture beyond just buildings, but as an art form, a philosophy that is woven into everyday life. On top of all that CAPPA also has many programs whose sole purpose is to prepare each student for their future career. CAPPA’s American Institute of Architecture Students chapter is constantly networking and holding events that connect architecture and interior design students with the vibrant community around them. Luckily for us Mavericks, UTA is located well within the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex allowing over 10,000 students to live on or around campus. When such a diverse population comes together on a campus with more than 400 acres and over a 100 buildings, it creates an inspiring and lively environment that students of any major can thrive in. When I have time to relax and sketch, my favorite spot on campus is our university administration building. It has a peaceful and relaxing patio space with so many trees and the water installation. The community and opportunities that I found once I came to UTA exceeded my expectations and I’m so glad that I decided to pursue my dreams here. You should check it out too, Alex.
– Thanks Iman. UTA has some areas of true beauty on its campus and we’re so glad you helped spotlight some of them. And with leading programs in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and more, UTA graduates are responsible for creating beautiful spaces across Texas and beyond. Keep it up mavericks.
Let’s hear from Brooke, a senior Nursing major hailing from just down the road in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. College is about so much more than going to class, making friends and joining clubs, and organizations. It’s about figuring out how you wanna live your life. GMercyU’s unique program called the Griffin Edge will help you set the right course. Tell us more, Brooke.
– Thanks, Alex. Hi, everyone. Like many of you, I kinda knew what I wanted to do, but I wasn’t really sure how to go about it. I was very lucky to have a great high school mentor who led me to Gwynedd Mercy University and its awesome nursing program. One of my favorite things about GMercyU is the ability to get involved. I’m currently the president of GMercyU’s chapter of the American Association of University Women. We raise funds and awareness for different issues within the community on a local and global scale. I’ve had the opportunity to meet with government officials and been a part of important university decision-making. It’s provided philanthropic fulfillment and helped me make lifelong friends and mentors. My involvement ties in really well with the 5 E’s of the Griffin Edge and has created a great school-life balance. I get to enjoy time with friends and make a difference in the world. GMercyU has a plethora of clubs and events to participate in. Don’t see a club that peaks your interest, no problem. You can create one. At GMercyU, I’ve been able to do things I really care about and get support along the way. Over the summer, I studied abroad in Ireland and I’m also an organizer for an event called Take Back the Night, which focuses on spreading awareness for sexual and domestic violence. I was even featured on the news discussing it. These amazing experiences fill me up and will help me make a difference when I graduate. I’m proud to say that I’m a Griffin. The life experience that I’ve gained is priceless. Regardless of the reasons you become a part of the GMercyU family, you’ll take much more than just a degree. Back to you, Alex.
– Brooke, thank you for sharing more about your distinctive Mercy experience. Your commitment to your community is what being a GMercyU Griffin is all about. All the experience you gained through the Griffin Edge program will certainly set you apart after graduation. Thank you.
Let’s hear from Mike, a member of GMercyU’s baseball team, majoring in Sport Management. Playing sports in college requires a lot of commitment and time management, but most student athletes wouldn’t have it any other way. For Mike, being immersed in sports, on and off the field is a winning combination and he’s made some amazing friends along the way. You’re out, Mike.
– Thanks, Alex. Growing up, sports was my passion. When looking for the right school, I wanted two things. First, to pursue a career in sports and second to continue playing baseball. Gwynedd Mercy University had everything I was looking for. Gwynedd Mercy University is committed to delivering a rich experience for both academic and competitive excellence. Providing athletes with great amenities like new athletic complexes, a fitness center and athletic trainers to ensure success during competition. When I first started, I was nervous that playing a sport would interfere with my academic performance. Balancing athletics and academics can be really challenging. However, coaches often set up tutoring and study sessions for their athletes, providing them with support to thrive in the classroom. Being a student athlete has made my college experience far more amazing than I imagined. The most notable aspect is the people you meet and the friends you make. Playing sports in college takes bonding to the next level. As part of the baseball team, I’ve made lifelong friendships and my teammates are now my family. As a student, I’ve had many volunteer opportunities with Gwynedd Mercy University’s Sport Business Association, which I’m a founding member of, we collected and donated over $2,000 worth of sporting equipment for leveling the playing field, a nonprofit organization that provides kids from low-income communities, the chance to engage in youth sports through the collection and distribution of used or extra sporting equipment. Gwynedd Mercy University has prepared me immensely to excel in my future career. The connections I made in the sport management program have helped me get my foot in the door in the industry and achieve an internship with the Philadelphia Phillies. I hope to continue using their resources and connections to get a full-time job in the sports industry after graduation. That’s all from me, throwing it back to you, Alex.
– Giving back to the community is a huge part of being a GMercyU Griffin, and student athletes are always ready to step up to the plate. Coaches know that students who do well in the classroom also do well in the field. That extra support you mentioned is all part of the game plan. Thanks, Mike.
Let’s go to Sean, a senior in GMercyU’s 3+2 Bachelors and Masters Program for Occupational Therapy. Whether students choose to live in the residence halls or commute to campus, Griffins find their home away from home at GMercyU. The warm and inclusive campus allows students to be themselves and find friends that last a lifetime. Tell us more, Sean.
– Thank you, guys. I’ll see you later. Thanks, Alex. Deciding on a college can be stressful, but GMercyU made the process stress-free and simple. My mom is a GMercyU graduate and seeing firsthand how much she benefited from her time here, I knew this institution would be the right fit for me. Knowing I wanted to be an occupational therapy practitioner, it was important for me to find a program that stood out from the rest. Our unique occupational science undergraduate degree is more than just a program. It’s a pathway to success in occupational therapy graduate school. Not many schools offer this, but here, we’re preparing for the future. At GMercyU education, is more than just learning skills for a job. It’s about learning how to be a good person who makes a difference in their community. GMercyU fosters a meaningful educational experience where I’ve discovered the immense positive impact this community has on its students, and I knew I had to be involved. I’m president of our world renowned choir, the Voices of Gwynedd… ♪ A spirit faithful put us in God’s presence ♪ ♪ In mercy… ♪ A member of our Student Occupational Therapy Association and a Resident Assistant. Living on campus provides me with opportunity to be independent and discover who I am while finding my home away from home. I’ve lived on campus throughout my entire time here and I’ve met so many new people. The residence halls at GMercyU are more than just living spaces. They’re nurturing grounds for student growth. Being able to foster this environment as a resident assistant is something I take great pride in. Being able to immerse myself in GMercyU’s community has been nothing but beneficial since day one. I have no doubt that when I graduate, I’ll be prepared to enter the workforce as an occupational therapist with distinct skills both personally and professionally, shaped by my time here at Gwynedd Mercy University. Back to you, Alex.
– Thanks for sharing your story, Sean. Loyola Hall is home to first year students and new amenities like A/C in every single room and superfast Wi-Fi. Next up, is a new quad area where students can hang out. There’s no place like home, but GMercyU is a close second. Thanks again.