#ut15

[utblog]

The Differences Disappear

by Mike Duff, Simsbury HS Unified Theater Alum

Originally, I was a person who was more of an introvert and really didn’t have many friends.  I was one of the few kids in my school who was in a wheelchair.

Although I was in the mainstream classes I think sometimes the other kids in school didn’t know how to relate to me because I was different from them. After school one day, while in my freshman year of high school, I was approached by a teacher who told me about an opportunity called Unified Theater.  It sounded interesting to me. So I went that day and I actually had a very good time.

At UT I met a lot of new people who became fast friends. It really did change my life by allowing me to discover that other people in the same age range as me have some of the same interests as I do. I think the other kids also learned that I was really just another one of them.

 Unified Theater has now been a part of my life for the past six years and it has continued to help me make new friends even after high school. In UT, the differences disappear.

[utaustin]

Congratulations to the Class of 2015!

To coincide with Fall Commencement, we're lighting the #UTTower two nights in a row.

This is the start of something big, #UT15 — make Longhorn Nation proud.

[utaustin]

When it was announced that the spring commencement had been cancelled and the fireworks were postponed until Sunday evening, students organized an unofficial commencement celebration for that night. A massive crowd of students, many in cap and gown, gathered on the Main Mall for speeches from former Student Government President Kori Rady and President Bill Powers, live music and a rendition of the Eyes of Texas, accompanied by student carrilloneur and Class of 2015 graduate Austin Ferguson on the Tower bells. (See one student's recap of the unofficial commencement on BuzzFeed.)

“This tenure with you all has been the blessing of my life,” Powers told the crowd. “You all are the very best students in America.”

Watch as President Powers confers degrees as the Class of 2015 looks on during the unofficial commencement celebration.

[utaustin]

Looking Back on a Stormy, Resilient Commencement

See photos, videos and more from a history-making commencement weekend, including an impromptu student-led celebration.

[utcampuslifeupdate]

Texas ‘15 Changing the World

“What Starts Here Changes the World.” It’s much more than just an inspiring ideal. Check out how these graduating Longhorns will be taking life by the horns.

Nasim Shakibai, Public Health, Pre-med, Business Foundations

S.M.I.L.E. (Students Making Impact Through Love and Empathy), Brave the Shave Committee, President

Alpha Epsilon Delta

Hispanic Health Professions Organization

Iranian Students and Academic and Cultural Organization

Texas Public Health, Publicity Committee

Muslim Students’ Association

“I have a list of goals I hope to achieve but haven’t discovered the order that I want to do them in. I hope to receive both my MD and Masters in Public Health. I also hope to do pediatric cancer research throughout my studies.”

Bradley Roofner, Finance and Business Honors Program

The Texas Undergraduate Investment Team

Beta Upsilon Chi

Freshman Founders, mentor

“My business partner and I will remain in the best city in the world (Austin, Texas) and continue to run our investment partnership. We are conducting research on public companies that meet our investment criteria and also looking for local Austin startups that can use our capital effectively.”

 Elizabeth Terrazas, Government, Corporate Communications, Bridging Disciplines (BDP) in Social Entrepreneurship and Non-Profits

Mu Epsilon Theta, President

Foundation Scholars Program

Longhorn Awakening

“I will be traveling abroad to Beijing, China immediately after graduation. I do not have a set job or plan for when I get back, but I know I want to serve low-income communities, either as a teacher or a college prep counselor. I plan to pursue a Masters in Public Policy in the years to come and spend my life reforming the public education system in order to improve the lives of those that come through it.”

Learn how more of the 8,800 Longhorns graduating this week plan to make their mark on the world. And more importantly, how are you going to change the world?

-by Maria Hawbacker, Campus Life Reporter

[mentaltrvll]

😎 Are y'all ready? @be_ht #ht17 #ht16 #ht15 #HT14 #ut15 #ut16 #ut17 #ut14