California middle school eighth-grade class adopts UTSA
(Dec. 24, 2013) -- In 2008, faculty and administrators at Holland Middle School in Baldwin Park, Calif., embarked on a new project to encourage students to think about pursuing a college degree and what they would need to do academically to be accepted to a university.
Names of different universities would be submitted annually for "adoption' consideration and the students would research each university nominated then vote to choose one.
Winning schools selected have included, the University of Southern California, the University of California at Los Angeles and California State University, Fullerton.
This year, selected by students in teacher Bradley Kuehfuss' eighth-grade class, was The University of Texas at San Antonio.
Kuehfuss knew about UTSA after years of correspondence through an online international running club with fellow runner Scott Kabrich, a prospect researcher for development in the UTSA division of External Relations.
One of Kabrich's colleagues directed Kuehfuss to Belinda Harmon, director of community outreach in the Office of P-20 Initiatives at the UTSA Downtown Campus. Harmon sent the school a classroom packet of UTSA memorabilia that the students could use to decorate their classroom and show their support for the Roadrunners.
To show their appreciation, the students sent Harmon a photo and individual thank-you notes.
"Their teacher is planting seeds of educational aspiration in these young students and we were so thrilled to play even a small part in this request," said Harmon.
According to Harmon, out-of-state requests for UTSA classroom packets with memorabilia are not uncommon. The Office of P-20 Initiatives has sent packets to Russia, Japan, California, Kansas, West Virginia, South Carolina, New Mexico and Massachusetts.
Events
This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.