Dinner and smart chat: Buy 'Great Conversation!' tickets now

Food critic Ed Tijerina

By Christi Fish
Associate Director of Media Relations

(Feb. 1, 2012) -- Tickets are on sale for The University of Texas at San Antonio's 12th annual "Great Conversation!," the signature fundraising event that brings together community leaders, scholars and friends of the university for engaging dinner conversation on diverse and stimulating topics.

>> Benefiting UTSA Honors College student scholarships, research stipends, and leadership and global learning opportunities, "Great Conversation!" is 6-8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 29 at the Institute of Texan Cultures, 801 E. Cesar Chavez Blvd., San Antonio, Texas, 78205-3296.

Conversation leaders will strike up engaging dinner discourse on nearly four dozen topics at this year's event. The occasion also will increase public awareness of the important cultural and intellectual role that UTSA has in San Antonio.

Tickets are $85, $65 for UTSA alumni. Table sponsorships between $1,500 and $50,000 are available by contacting Linda Lopez-George at 210-458-4488, or sponsor the attendance of a UTSA Honors College student for $50. Recent UTSA graduates (2007-2011) can purchase an individual ticket for $65.

Learn more at the Great Conversation! website or call 210-458-5162.

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A sampling of the evening's guests and topics:

Building the Spirit of San Antonio (and a Marching Band), Ron Ellis, Director of Athletic Bands, UTSA Department of Music

The Many Meanings of Mexican Antiquity: Recent Discoveries in Mexican Archaeology, John Phillip Santos, M. Phil., Distinguished Scholar in Mestizo Cultural Studies, UTSA Honors College

The Fundamentals of Effective Lobbying, John T. Montford, J.D., President and CEO, JTM Consulting, LLC

Why Do We Need Public Schools?, Harriett Romo, Ph.D., UTSA Department of Sociology, Director, Bank of America Child and Adolescent Policy Research Institute

Making Texas Wines and Running a Winery, Cathy Bodenstedt (B.A. '11), Owner, CapRock Winery

UTSA Football: What Happens in Year Two and Beyond?, Larry Coker, UTSA Head Football Coach, Intercollegiate Athletics

Why Do We Love Restaurants (Besides Not Having to Do the Dishes)?, Ed Tijerina, Columnist, San Antonio Express-News

How to Apply Games of Chance to Life, Nelson Wolff, Bexar County Judge

How Can We Make Our Borders More Secure?, Hank Whitman, Chief, Texas Rangers

Water, Water Everywhere -- But in Texas?, Alex Briseno, Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees, San Antonio Water System

The 25th Anniversary of Martin Luther King: Why Should We Celebrate?, Richard Lewis, Ph.D., UTSA Department of Sociology

Events

April 15-19, various times

Spring 2024 Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Showcase

The UTSA Office of Undergraduate is proud to celebrate National Undergraduate Research with an annual event sponsored by the (OUR) featuring students will showcase undergraduate student research and creative endeavors from all disciplines across campus.

Various Locations

Wednesday, April 17, 11:00 a.m.

Asian Fanfair

Asian Fanfair is an event that highlights our APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) identities on campus. The event will feature performances from our AAPI interest Student Organizations, a tabling fair, and some cultural cuisine.

Student Union Paseo, Main Campus

Wednesday, April 17, 11:00 a.m.

UTSA Veteran Resource Fair

Join us for a day dedicated to supporting and empowering our UTSA veterans! We're excited to announce our upcoming resource fair, designed specifically to ensure that our veteran students have access to the resources and networking opportunities they need to thrive in their academic and post-military lives.

Student Union Lawn, Main Campus

Wednesday, April 17, 4:00 p.m.

Text Analysis Using Python

This workshop will introduce participants to the basics of text analysis using Python and Jupyter Notebook on the Constellate Lab platform. We will create datasets in Constellate to analyze patterns, trends, and relationships of contents and more.

John Peace Library (JPL 3.02.32), Main Campus

Wednesday, April 17, 5:30 p.m.

Phi Kappa Phi Hosts Last Lecture with esteemed professor Diane Abdo

What would award-winning writing professor Diane Abdo say if it were her last lecture? Join us for our annual Last Lecture series on Wednesday April 17.

Multipurpose Room (BSE 2.102), Main Campus

Friday, April 19, 11:00 a.m.

Día en la Sombrilla

Día en la Sombrilla, formerly Fiesta UTSA, is a festival hosted each spring as a part of Fiesta® San Antonio events. Sponsored by Roadrunner Productions, the event features music, food, confetti, games, event t-shirts, and more.

Sombrilla Plaza and Central Plaza, Main Campus

April 20-21

Fiesta Arts Fair

Fiesta Arts Fair features contemporary art from more than 100 artists from across the U.S., Fiesta favorite foods, drinks, live music by local and regional performers, and a Young Artists Garden providing opportunities for budding artists to learn, explore and express their creativity.

UTSA Southwest Campus

Submit an Event

Spotlight

UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.