We recognize student transitions and mark significant milestones through reflection and festive celebrations at UT Dallas. We have several exciting upcoming programs to honor students.

Rising Sophomores: Ignite Your Future is a special evening marking the end of our students’ first year at UT Dallas. It celebrates individual and collective freshman success, their class as a whole, academic and personal achievements, new friends, and moving on to their sophomore year!

The event, held in the residence hall courtyard, begins with a candle lighting ceremony representing the path freshmen travel to gain sophomore status. Selected students speak to their peers about what the year has meant to them and the lessons they’ve learned. The group is given some words of wisdom from sophomores who share insights about what freshmen have to look forward to. The celebration will then kick into high gear, featuring ice cream sundaes and music from the student-run Radio UTD.

The celebration will be held Wednesday, April 13 at 6 p.m. in the Residence Hall Courtyard.

We celebrate our sophomores who have overcome the “sophomore slump” and are now halfway to graduation. This outdoor bash symbolizes their jump into their junior year.

The event will feature food, games, sack races, three-legged races, a jump house and inflatable obstacle course.

The Halfway to Someday Celebration: Sophomore JUMP! will be held Tuesday, April 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Phase 8 Courtyard.

Tau Sigma is a national academic honor society that recognizes and promotes academic excellence and involvement among transfer students. Candidacy for membership is granted to students who transferred into the University, are enrolled full-time and earned at least a 3.5 grade point average during their first semester.

Students who qualify receive an invitation to join Tau Sigma, and those who accept will be honored at the annual induction ceremony on Sunday, April 17 at 4 p.m. This elite group of transfer students at UT Dallas has additional opportunities for:

  • Scholarship considerations
  • Leadership positions
  • Resume expansion
  • Nationwide recognition
  • Lifetime membership

The Beta Rho Chapter of Tau Sigma was formally installed at UT Dallas in spring 2009. In its first two years our chapter has inducted over 170 transfer students.

To learn more, please visit the Tau Sigma National Honor Society website.

Mark your calendars for Senior Week 2011, May 9-14. This weeklong program invites the campus community to celebrate soon-to-be alumni.

Although our seniors’ time as undergraduates is ending, their connection to the campus continues. In addition to a valued education, they have gained friends and memories that will last a lifetime. Senior Week is a time to reflect on their experiences at UT Dallas and have fun with friends and family. 

The week’s highlights include:

  • Mercury Monday
    • Special graduation edition of our campus newspaper, The Mercury.
  • T-shirt Tuesday
    • Seniors wear T-shirts — created just for them — to take pictures with Temoc, the University mascot.
  • Whoosh Wednesday
    • Senior Send-off — A full-scale carnival with rides and food helps bid farewell to seniors in a fun and festive way. The event, open to the entire University campus community, is scheduled for 7-11 p.m. at the Intramural Fields.
  • Thrilling Thursday
    • Ring Ceremony — For students who have selected a class ring, a special presentation will be made on behalf of the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. May 12, 6-7 p.m. in the Student Union Galaxy Rooms
    • Hot Air Balloon Rides — 5 p.m. Soccer Fields
  • Farewell Friday
    • Honors Convocation and Commencement
    • Memories on the Mall
  • So Long Saturday
    • Commencement
    • Memories on the Mall, a meaningful way to welcome each new graduate into the alumni community from day one and create a fun event that celebrates this milestone. Visit the Graduation website for the Commencement schedule.

We would love for you to join the celebration. Sponsored by the Office of Student Transition Programs, the Office of Student Development and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.