It is no small feat to win national and international academic competitions, and students at The University of Texas won a host of prestigious ones this academic year to prove they’re the best in their field, the country and the world. The university recognized these students’ achievements by lighting the Tower orange.
The 2010-11 academic year also marked significant milestones in the history of many university programs and schools. The Plan II Honors Program, a nationally recognized model of excellence which attracts numerous Marshall, Truman and Mellon scholars, celebrated its 75th anniversary with a Tower lighting.
We’re nothing if not champions of the achievements of our colleges, schools and students. Take a look at the occasions and dates this past fall and spring semesters marked by the signature orange Tower.
What: Imperial Barrel Award
When: April 28
Who: Jackson School of Geosciences students
A team of geosciences students beat finalists from 11 global regions to win the Imperial Barrel Award, the world’s largest and most prestigious competition in geosciences hosted annually by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
What: Wake Forest University Biotechnology Conference and Case Competition
When: April 25
Who: McCombs School of Business and College of Natural Sciences students
A team of four graduate students developed a winning corporate strategy for a pharmaceutical company to collect the $10,000 first prize at the Wake Forest University Biotechnology Conference and Case Competition.
What: John L. Costello National Criminal Law Trial Advocacy Competition and the Uvaldo Herrera National Moot Court Competition
When: April 20
Who: School of Law students
Victories at the John L. Costello and Uvaldo Herrera competitions represent the 13th and 14th national championship wins in the last 10 years for School of Law teams.
What: Honors Day and 100th anniversary of the Friar Society
When: April 16
On Honors Day, the university salutes those students who have distinguished themselves through academic achievement. View the list of student honorees for 2011. Also recognized on April 16 was the Friar Society, the oldest honor society at the university.
What: 75th anniversary of the Plan II Honors Program
When: March 25
On this day, the Tower was lighted orange with the No. 75 in the windows to celebrate the Plan II Honors Program’s 75th anniversary. Plan II is a challenging interdisciplinary curriculum.
What: GE Experienced Commercial Leadership Program (ECLP) Case Competition
When: Feb. 23
Who: McCombs School of Business students
After advancing to the final round of the ECLP Case Competition, a team of MBA students successfully pitched their innovative solution to the global obesity epidemic to senior leaders of GE and the ECLP for the win.
What: Ross Energy Club Renewable Energy National Case Challenge
When: Feb. 16
Who: McCombs School of Business students
In this case competition, a team of McCombs MBA students beat teams from 15 of the nation’s top business schools in which they were asked to analyze the impact of coal plant retirements in the northeast due to EPA regulations, while also considering renewable energy standards in the region.
What: 2010 fall commencement
When: Dec. 4-5
The roughly 3,100 graduates in the fall semester included 2,400 undergraduates, 13 law students, 230 doctoral students and 470 students receiving their master’s degrees. The Tower was lighted orange with the No. 10 in the windows both evenings.
What: 100th anniversary of the Graduate School
When: Nov. 11
The Graduate School, established in 1910 by the Board of Regents, awards more than 3,000 master’s and nearly 800 doctoral degrees annually, making it one of the largest in the United States. In celebration of the centennial anniversary, the Tower was lighted orange with the No. 100 in the windows and a commemorative hardcover book was released.
What: 100th anniversary of the School of Architecture
When: Nov. 5
The School of Architecture, which celebrated 100 years of design education excellence in November, ranked fifth in the nation for 2010 in both its undergraduate and graduate programs, according to a report by DesignIntelligence.
What: 2010 5th Apache Brigade Competition
When: Oct. 27
Who: Army ROTC Ranger Challenge Co-Ed Team
The Texas Army ROTC team placed first at the Apache Brigade Competition which advanced the team to the international competition in West Point.
What: 6th annual National Energy Finance Challenge (NEFC)
When: Oct. 7
Who: McCombs School of Business students
The Texas MBA Energy Finance Group were the victors at this annual competition hosted by the McCombs School of Business. The competition centered on international shale gas development and commercialization and brought together competitors from 15 of the top business programs in the country.
Learn more about the various lighting configurations of the university’s iconic Tower.
