AUSTIN, Texas—The president of The University of Texas at Austin on Thursday (April 8) will visit three inner-city high schools in Houston, where he will meet with 20 students who will be offered scholarships totaling more than $250,000 over a period of four years.
President Larry R. Faulkner will congratulate the students for having qualified for the scholarships offered through the Longhorn Opportunity Scholarship and President’s Achievement Scholarship programs. The approximately $250,000 in scholarship certificates being delivered to students at the three schools is just a portion of the approximately $6.2 million in scholarship commitments over the next four years being offered statewide by UT Austin through the two programs.
“I am pleased to be able to meet these Houston students and to award to them the scholarships they have earned through their outstanding achievement. In addition, I am eager to inform others at these area high schools of the scholarship opportunities that exist at UT Austin. We will do everything we can to ensure that the door of educational opportunity is open to students throughout the Houston area,” said Faulkner.
This is the first year for the Longhorn Opportunity Scholarship program, which offers participants $4,000 per year for up to four years if they maintain required grade levels. This is the third year for the President’s Achievement Scholarships program, which provides scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $1,000 per year, depending on academic achievement and an analysis of each recipient that includes class rank, parental income and other factors.
Faulkner will meet at 8:45 a.m. Thursday with students at Jefferson Davis High School, 1101 Quitman, where one student qualified for the Longhorn Opportunity Scholarship and four for the President’s Achievement Scholarship.
At 10:15 a.m., he will be at the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, 4701 Dickson, where two students qualified for the Longhorn Opportunity Scholarship and four for the President’s Achievement Scholarship.
Faulkner is scheduled to arrive at 11:30 a.m. at Worthing High School, 9215 Scott St., where five students qualified for Longhorn Opportunity Scholarship and three for the President’s Achievement Scholarship.
Deputy Director Augustine Garza of the Office of Admissions said the three schools to be visited by Faulkner on Thursday are considered “underrepresented” schools in that a representative number of students graduating from these schools have not been applying to, or attending, UT Austin.
“This scholarship initiative provides the University another opportunity to establish partnerships with high schools throughout the state of Texas. It enables these underrepresented high schools to encourage and promote The University of Texas at Austin as a viable choice for their students.”
The 95 scholarships being offered statewide through the Longhorn Opportunity Scholarship program involve a $1.8 million commitment, and the 672 students selected for the President’s Achievement Scholarship (PAS) program comprise a $5.7 million commitment over four years.
President’s Achievement Scholarships are offered on three levels. This year, there were 132 scholarship offers for Tier 1 students receiving four-year awards of $5,000 per year. There were 367 scholarship offers for Tier 2 students receiving four-year awards of $2,000 per year. There were 173 scholarship offers for one-year awards of $1,000.
“We believe that the partnership of the Longhorn Opportunity Program and the President’s Achievement Scholarship program confirms the University’s sincere commitment to attract a diverse student population and provides support for needy scholars,” said Larry Burt, director of the Office of Student Financial Services.
For additional information, contact Garza at (512) 475-7454.
