AUSTIN, Texas —Approximately 700 of the state’s brightest high school students will arrive at The University of Texas at Austin Thursday (July 20) to participate in the 19th annual Honors Colloquium — an intensive program designed to be a college search tool for outstanding students.
The students are chosen on the basis of test scores and academic achievement, and most will end up later competing in National Merit, National Achievement or National Hispanic Scholarship competitions. The events provide the high school students a chance to interact with University faculty and students and learn about the educational opportunities at UT Austin. The three-day colloquium includes academic lectures, campus tours, group discussions and social events.
“The program introduces students to aspects of the UT Austin undergraduate experience,” said Coordinator Paul Pedersen of the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs. “At the same time, it also provides the students with an example of how to evaluate their college choices, regardless of whether they choose to attend the University or another institution.”
During the colloquium, the high school students will be able to choose from more than 60 special academic lectures presented by University faculty members, including “Existentialism and the Meaning of Life” by Dr. Robert C. Solomon; “Technology Issues in the 21st Century” by Dr. Wallace T. Fowler; “The Doomsday Bug” by Dr. Shelley M. Payne; “Tears, Cheers and Fears: Emotional Appeals in Advertising” by Dr. Patricia Stout; and “Historically Famous Texans” by Dr. Jim Enelow. In addition, students can choose from several interdisciplinary panel discussions with faculty on subjects such as health care and social problems in the 21st Century.
Participants will check in at Jester Center Thursday afternoon from 1-4 p.m. Also available that afternoon at the Lila B. Etter Alumni Center will be a special “marketplace” for parents to learn about undergraduate programs, students services and the enrollment process.
On Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Bass Concert Hall, UT Austin President Larry R. Faulkner will welcome the participants to campus. Dr. Charles Ramirez Berg, award-winning professor of radio-television-film at UT Austin, will then present the keynote address on “Representation of Minorities in Hollywood Media.”
A geology field trip is planned as well as tours of the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, the Texas Memorial Museum and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. Students will visit chemistry and physics “circuses” and attend a performance of scenes from Annieperformed by high school students enrolled in a summer theater workshop.
For other times and locations of events, contact Pedersen at (512) 232-3993.
