Students
News of UT Dallas students’ achievements, experiences and contributions to the university and community.
Ring Ceremony Creates New Tradition at University's Iconic Trellis
The ring ceremony took on a new tradition this year when students dipped their rings in a pool, symbolically covering the ring and themselves in UT Dallas pride. The ceremony took place on the recently redesigned mall, surrounded by trees beneath the University's iconic trellis. read more
Grad Ceremonies Celebrate Journeys Ending — And Beginning
Proud family and friends gathered to honor 1,198 graduate and PhD candidates and 1,437 undergraduates as they collected their diplomas from UT Dallas President David E. Daniel. The graduates represent a 22 percent increase from last spring. Some family members traveled thousands of miles for the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice. Among them was G. Panneer Selvam, who flew from Chennai, India, to see his son, Anjan, walk across the stage. read more
Student Photo Exhibit Explores Depth of the Everyday
Exploring a range of subjects and themes, graduate and undergraduate photography students will be exhibiting their work in the Visual Arts Building from May 25 – June 23. In conjunction with completing her Master of Fine Arts degree, Ronit Ilan will be installing her collection titled State of Mind. Lauren Marek, who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in art and performance this semester, will show her work in a collection called Memories of the Everyday. read more
Student Champion of Environment Wins Udall Award
McDermott Scholar Saskia Versteeg won the Udall Scholarship for the second year in a row. The award recognized her work in organizing projects to stir campus awareness of the environment, recycling and her role in helping to establish a minor in environmental studies at UT Dallas. read more
2 Undergrad Researchers Win Goldwater Scholarships
Two UT Dallas students have won scholarships from the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program in the same year. A third student earned honorable mention. The program awards scholarships to about 300 top students from a field of 1,000 nominated by faculty at universities nationwide. read more
Management Team Wins With Idea for Mobile App That Does it All
Kids could play rock star, creating voice effects and perfecting their pitch. Moms could show off their babies’ first steps and words, laying voice and music over video and photos. This could all be done on smart devices and shared with the world via Facebook and Twitter. The idea came from a team of six UT Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management students who placed first in a contest that asked them to research the mobile application marketplace and design an award-winning product. Their idea, which they named PhodioJam, ties social media networking with audio recording, video and photos. read more
UT Dallas to Graduate Record Numbers This Week
Family members and well-wishers will join the celebratory throng May 18-19, when spring commencement ceremonies will honor 2,635 UT Dallas graduates, a 22- percent increase from last year. UT Dallas will hold six ceremonies to accommodate the increasing number of graduates from the University’s seven schools. read more
17-Year-Old to Earn Engineering Degree at UT Dallas
On Friday, 17-year-old Aaron Kotamarti will collect his bachelor’s degree in engineering from The University of Texas at Dallas. Kotamarti doesn’t expect to slow down after the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science commencement ceremony. He plans to complete a bachelor’s degree in biology by next spring, and has already started a master’s program in electrical engineering. He expects to head to medical school after that. read more
Intern Program Links BBS Students to Community
UT Dallas’ School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences encourages students to complement what they have learned in the classroom with work in a wide variety of applied settings through an internship program that sends more students into the community every year. During the spring semester, BBS placed 34 interns with 30 agencies throughout the area. read more
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Elects 3 Student Vice Presidents
The Phi Kappa Phi academic honor society recently elected three student vice presidents, who will represent the student voice and opinion of the organization’s student members, promote Phi Kappa Phi on campus, participate in chapter meetings and events, and serve on the Executive Board alongside other officers. Each student vice president serves a one-year term. read more
Awards Celebrate Dedication of UT Dallas Students
Five students, a student organization and an advisor were lauded for their contributions to UT Dallas campus life at the recent annual Student Leadership Awards program. The Student Leader of the Year award was presented to Amit Maheska, an information technology graduate student in the Naveen Jindal School of Management. Maheska is a member of Phi Kappa Phi national honor society, is on the Dean’s Council in the Jindal School of Management and is president of one of the University’s largest student groups, the Indian Student Association. read more
Festival to Feature Sounds, Colors of Spring Arts Classes
It’s spring and hence time for students to show off their creative work from more than 40 School of Arts and Humanities courses. The Student Arts Spring Festival gives audiences the opportunity to take in classical music, jazz, theater, dance, guitar, piano and vocal performances, as well as an art exhibition and reception. The festival, which involves the work of more than 600 students, starts Thursday and stretches over two weeks. read more
Record-setting Trio Named Athletes of the Year
Three students who set new records in UT Dallas athletics were honored as the 2012 Athletes of the Year recently at the Athletic Department's annual awards banquet. Senior men's basketball player Chris Barnes was named Male Student-Athlete of the Year, while senior women's basketball player Lyndsey Smith and senior women's soccer player Leah Bowyer were co-winners of the Female Student-Athlete award. read more
Awards Add New Chapter to Student Media Success Story
Three UT Dallas student media outlets—A Modest Proposal, The Mercury and UTD-TV—recently took home a combined 23 achievement awards at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) convention. The honors included The Mercury’s second consecutive “best of show” award. In all, The Mercury captured eight awards and eight honorable mentions at the 102nd annual TIPA convention, held in Corpus Christie last month. UTD-TV earned four awards and an honorable mention, including two firsts in the TV news story and TV news writing categories. A Modest Proposal won two awards, both for illustration. read more
Teams Get Down and Dirty for Annual Oozeball Games
A long-held and loved tradition at UT Dallas took place Friday, when students, faculty and staffers participated in Oozeball 2012. To understand Oozeball, think volleyball, then add a bunch of slippery mud beneath the net in a pit resembling a pig pen. read more
UT Dallas Student Mentors Help High School Teens Envision College
A group of UT Dallas students has been for months mentoring high school teens and are now capping off the experience with a project painting bookshelves to donate to charity. The students in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences have worked with 58 sophomores from nearby Williams High School in Plano as part of a grant program funded by the Home Builders Institute in Washington D.C. read more
Women's Center Aide Wins Student Worker Award
Described by their supervisors as “always a step ahead,” and having “astonishing work ethics,” five student employees at UT Dallas have been honored as part of National Student Employment Week. The annual program recognizes student employees for their work in on-campus jobs. The Student Employee of the Year award was presented to Kaitlen Clare, a junior gender studies major in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies who works in the Galerstein Women’s Center. read more
Celebration Takes Students Around the World in 5 Days
This year’s International Week was the University’s largest so far, with UT Dallas students representing a total 19 countries of origin. UT Dallas’ student organizations – some of them newly formed – represented 19 countries of origin at the events, which started with Passport to the World, a showcase of different cultures featuring food, music, information, and artifacts. The event drew an estimated 1,100 participants and attendees, said Andrea Diaz, International Program Coordinator. Last year’s total was 700. read more
Undergrads Showcase Research Efforts at Exhibition
The University’s first undergraduate research journal, The Exley, was the star of the show at the University’s recent Exhibition of Excellence in Undergraduate Research. The new journal presents traditional research, ranging from geosciences to investment analysis, as well as creative works, including black and white photography, charcoal drawings and poetry. read more
UT Dallas Takes 2nd Place in Chess Final Four
UT Dallas fought hard but came up a half-point short Sunday in its quest to reclaim the national chess title, finishing second in the so-called Final Four of chess. Cross-state rival Texas Tech University claimed first place for the second straight year. The teams met in in Washington, D.C., for the tournament, which also included New York University and University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) to see who would claim the top spot in collegiate chess. read more
A Celebration of Diversity, iWeek Kicks off April 2
With its international talent show, henna, foreign films and table tennis tournament, the events and activities associated with International Week at UT Dallas are popular springtime campus traditions. A celebration of the University’s diverse student body, iWeek kicks off Monday, April 2. read more
Dreams and Determination Drive Marketing Science Scholar
When César Zamudio dived into his doctoral research, he didn’t think he had a great idea, know much about the subject, have data or know whether it would appeal to the marketing community. But he knew the topic was unique and he was doggedly determined. In February, Zamudio won honorable mention in the annual 2011 Marketing Science Institute Alden G. Clayton Dissertation Proposal competition. read more
Ericsson Helps Students Prepare For Job Interviews
UT Dallas students recently participated in mock interviews and resume reviews conducted by Ericsson, an international provider of communications technology and services, and a longtime supporter of UT Dallas. read more
Pep Rally Planned to Send Chess Team Off to Final Four
The UT Dallas chess team heads to Washington, D.C., this week for the Final Four of chess, also known as the President’s Cup. A pep rally featuring the team members and the UT Dallas cheerleaders is planned on Tuesday, March 27, at noon at the Student Union and Chess Plaza. The chess team comes into its season finale after a strong year, which included sweeping the Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship in December. read more
Basketball Stars Rack Up Post-Season Honors
Two UT Dallas basketball standouts have wrapped up their Comet careers with fresh accolades, as annnounced recently by several national collegiate sports groups. Men's team senior forward Chris Barnes was named to the All-South Region first team by D3hoops.com and the All-District first team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. On the women's team, senior guard Lyndsey Smith received an honorable mention from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in its All-America team selection. read more
Grad Students to Share Work at Humanities Event
More than 50 graduate students from a number of universities will gather this weekend at UT Dallas to discuss the future of the humanities. The RAW: Research, Art, Writing symposium offers students a chance to present their scholarly and creative work and to collect feedback. The interdisciplinary symposium also features keynote speaker Dr. Benjamin L. Alpers, associate professor in the Honors College at the University of Oklahoma. read more
Sweets, Splatter Dancing on for Springapalooza 2012
With a casino night, an evening concert and “splatter” dancing on the agenda, the events and activities planned for UT Dallas’ Springapalooza are sure to be a hit among students. Set for March 19-23, Springapalooza is an annual post spring break celebration put on by the Student Union Activities Advisory Board (SUAAB). Jonathan “GNO” White, SUAAB adviser and assistant director of student life programs, said the activities get students pumped about the homestretch of their spring semester. read more
Comets Give Time, Energy During Spring Break
As students from UT Dallas hit the road during spring break, many will enjoy some rest and relaxation. But about 80 students are heading out for Alternative Spring Break, which focuses on volunteer service and community outreach. read more
Engineering Week Encourages Girls in Math, Science
In the field of engineering, the ratio of men to women in the workplace is nearly nine to one. To combat this staggering difference, a national movement called “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” has emerged to show girls the possibilities and the fun in math and science. read more
Rugby Team Rises From Obscurity to Championship
Only months ago, the rugby team at UT Dallas was virtually non-existent. And somehow, only months later, they are state champions. The team next travels to the PacWest Region Championship in Nebraska in mid-April. read more
New Journal Showcases Undergraduate Research, Arts
Student-led research on social media, volcanoes, and plant extracts, as well as poetry and photography, are all part of an ambitious project spearheaded by the Office of Undergraduate Education at UT Dallas. Each of the stories and articles will be published in the inaugural issue of a new research journal called The Exley. read more
Comet Basketball Star is on the Ballot for All-Stars Position
UT Dallas senior men's basketball star Chris Barnes has been nominated to play in the 2012 Reese’s Division III College All-Star Game, which will be played March 17 in conjunction with the NCAA Division III “Final Four“ Championship in Salem, Va. The final two roster spots in the national All-Star Game will be decided via online ballot, with fans invited to vote. Barnes is on a ballot with seven other Division III seniors from throughout the nation. read more
Certificate Helps Students Hone Communication Skills
Feedback from employers has made instruction in speaking, writing and so-called soft communications skills increasingly important to collegians hoping to succeed in the workplace and beyond. In response, UT Dallas’ Office of Undergraduate Education collaborated with faculty from across the University last fall to create the Certificate in Critical Communication. The program connects students with courses that improve their speaking and writing skills. read more
Two UT Dallas Papers Honored by Geophysics Society
Two technical papers by researchers at the Center for Lithospheric Studies at UT Dallas have been ranked among the top 31 papers presented at the 2011 Society of Exploration Geophysicists annual meeting. A geosciences doctoral student's paper was presented at the society's 81st annual meeting. read more
Advertising Pioneer’s Legacy Fuels New Aspirations
A scholarship named for a Dallas advertising pioneer and early benefactor of the Naveen Jindal School of Management already has made a big difference in the life of the student who recently received it. A new student in the MS in Marketing program, Haris Fazlani is the most recent recipient of the Morris Hite Memorial Scholarship, a $3,000 award given annually by the Dallas chapter of the American Advertising Federation and its philanthropic arm, the Dallas Ad League Foundation. read more
Q&A: Basketball, Volleyball Coaches Discuss Approaches
In the last decade, UT Dallas Comets basketball coach Terry Butterfield and volleyball coach Marci Sanders have led their programs toward national prominence. The coaches recently discussed the intricacies of coaching young men and women and what it takes to build a successful program. read more
ChessFest To Honor Well-Known Master Coach
For The 11th Annual ChessFest, students are invited to match wits with the UT Dallas chess team and to attend a talk from one of the world's most recognized chess coaches, Bruce Pandolfini. ChessFest is a collaboration and celebration of chess organized annually by UT Dallas’ Chess Program and the Eugene McDermott Library. read more
Undergrad’s Work Details Protein’s Role in Neurological Disorders
A UT Dallas undergraduate’s research is revealing new information about a key protein’s role in the development of epilepsy, autism and other neurological disorders. This work could one day lead to new treatments for the conditions. Senior neuroscience student Francisco Garcia has worked closely with Dr. Marco Atzori, associate professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. read more
Teams Rank in Top Tier of National Moot Court Challenge
Two UT Dallas Moot Court teams finished among the top 32 teams at this year’s American Collegiate Moot Court Association National Tournament, hosted Jan. 13 and 14 at Chapman University in Orange, California. The teams—one comprised of Richard Stees and Michelle Nirumandrad, the other of Faith Boyle and Irene Morse—performed well enough at the ACMA Southwestern Regional Tournament to receive invitations to the National Tournament. Stees and Nirumandrad placed first overall in the regional competition and were seeded seventh nationally. read more
Program Helps Students Bond While They Are Abroad
The chance to learn about new cultures, different languages or exotic foods might make the iFriend program seem like a good idea to just about anyone, but a few UT Dallas students walk away with the best perk of all: a lifelong pal. Begun in fall 2010 as a way to help new international teaching assistants acclimate to life on campus, the program has morphed into a partnership between the International Student Services Office and the Office of Student Volunteerism that provides an immersive cultural experience to both domestic and international students. read more
Gifts Enable Research on Addiction, Cognitive Ability
The Center for BrainHealth has granted new fellowships to two doctoral students to advance their research, made possible by gifts from supporters of the center. Sam DeWitt, a PhD candidate in cognition and neuroscience, is the recipient of the first-ever Dianne Cash Graduate Fellowship. Cash donated $5 million in 2003 to build the Center for BrainHealth in honor of her mother and grandmother, Frances Goad Cecil and Mildred Crews Goad. read more
Student's Book Translates Acclaimed Mexican Author
George Henson, a PhD Candidate in Humanities, has recently translated a collection of short stories by prominent Mexican author Elena Poniatowska under the title The Heart of the Artichoke. Henson said the collection of stories illustrates Mexico’s rich cultural tapestry.“These are stories about servants and matriarchs, street sweepers and sorceresses, shop keepers, nannies, mothers, travelers and addicts. They are stories of broken lives and broken hearts, of betrayal and rebirth,” said Henson. read more
Exhibit to Examine Sound as Art and Image
The School of Arts and Humanities opens its spring season by examining the relationship between sound and art with the mixed-media exhibit Sonic Architectonic. Curated by visual arts faculty member Lorraine Tady, the exhibit features both local and national artists who work directly with noise or frequency, examining what is heard or felt through sound waves, and some who work with images that suggest sound. Other artists in the exhibit anticipate our relationship to sound by addressing our expectations and cognitive reflexes. read more
Terry Foundation Expands Scholarship Program at UT Dallas
The Houston-based Terry Foundation is funding up to five additional student scholars at UT Dallas this fall in a nod to the success and growth of the Terry Scholars Program at the University over the last six years. In total, the foundation will provide more than $1 million for scholarships this fall. The increase to 21 students — up from 16 — was approved by the foundation late last fall. The program aids Texas high school graduates who demonstrate a strong record of academic achievement, exhibit leadership, have a track record of volunteerism and meet certain income standards as represented by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as FAFSA.
read more
Team Prescribes Best Medicine in Healthcare Contest
Hard-nosed economics and ethical judgment calls helped a team of Naveen Jindal School of Management students win a case competition that asked competitors to distribute $500 million in make-believe money throughout a hypothetical hospital system. The graduate-student team tied for first place and earned $3,000 in the second annual contest sponsored by the North Texas chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. The three-judge panel at the Nov. 17 event awarded both first-place teams the full top-place cash prize, North Texas ACHE Coordinator Lisa Cox said. read more
Largest Ever Cohort Named to Fall Dean’s List
For the fall 2011 semester, 792 undergraduate students made the dean’s list at UT Dallas. It is the single largest group named to the list in the University’s history, up by more than 100 students over fall 2010 and up 27 percent since fall 2007. Dr. Sheila Amin Gutierrez de Pineres, dean of Undergraduate Education at the University said the increase is directly tied to the University’s enrollment growth.
read more
Mechanical Engineering Program Reaches Milestone
The graduating class of mechanical engineering students earning master’s degrees had an added distinction in 2011 – they were UT Dallas’ first. The class was made up of five students receiving MSME degrees from the burgeoning Mechanical Engineering Department, housed within the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. “This first graduating class represents the interdisciplinary vision of engineering and the rigorous education students receive here,” said Dr. Mario Rotea, head of the department. read more
Fraud Risk Plan Wins High Marks in CPA Competition
A UT Dallas team’s plan to steer a freewheeling Texas construction company back onto a straight-and-narrow path to success recently earned the students third place in a national case competition. Highly Debticated, the foursome from Naveen Jindal School of Management, won $2,500 in the contest, the second annual American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ collegiate accounting competition. read more
Art Exhibit to Showcase Works of 6 UT Dallas Women
Six emerging female artists, all current or former UT Dallas students, are presenting their work together in the exhibit A Fraudulent Desire to Exist. The show, which is curated by UT Dallas professors John Pomara and Greg Metz, features the work of Cassandra Emswiler, Danielle Georgiou, Emily Loving, Hillary Holsonback, Robin Myrick and Sally Glass. The opening reception for the show will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, at Steve Paul Productions, which is hosting the exhibit. read more
Course to Teach Business Undergrads How to Manage the Cloud
When one class of business school students return to campus next week, assignments for the new semester won’t be the only thing up in the air. The Naveen Jindal School of Management is offering an Enterprise Resource Planning course, beginning in the spring, to teach students how to use cloud computing technology, a fast-growing field in which data and processes are hosted remotely on the Web. read more
Text size: 
