UTSA’s Great Conversation! raises a record $312,000 for Honors College scholarships

Great Conversation! co-chair and UTSA sociology professor Harriett Romo leads a discussion at the 2015 fundraiser.

By Christi Fish
Director of Communications

(Mar. 2, 2015) -- The UTSA Honors College raised a record $312,000 for student scholarships, research stipends, and leadership and global learning opportunities last week at its 2015 Great Conversation! fundraiser. The event was held at the Institute of Texan Cultures.

The San Antonio community joined UTSA faculty, staff and students at Great Conversation! for dinner discussions on a variety of topics. Community leaders and UTSA scholars led the discussions, covering a wide variety of stimulating topics.

At one table, UTSA history professor Kolleen Guy discussed how place affects the taste of wine and cheese. At another table, Hal Adams, chief marketing officer of CST Brands Inc., led a discussion about marketing ethics. Across the room, Abraxas Petroleum Chairman, CEO and President Bob Watson discussed the implications of falling oil prices on Texas, the nation and the world.

The UTSA Honors College provides a unique educational experience for academically talented students with a commitment to excellence. It is open to students from all academic disciplines. Honors classes include special sections of regular courses with smaller enrollments and interdisciplinary seminars that bring together advanced students from diverse disciplines.

"Over the last 15 years, the San Antonio community has been very generous in its support of our honors students," said Richard Diem, dean of the Honors College. "That support has created opportunities for excellence that are shaping our students to become the next generation of top-tier leaders in their fields."

Great Conversation! was co-chaired by UTSA President Ricardo Romo and sociology professor Harriett Romo, Iñigo Arzac (B.B.A. '05), Carri Baker Wells and Marialyn Barnard. Some of this year’s key sponsors included the San Antonio Livestock Exposition, Anheuser-Busch Inc., AT&T, Alpha Building Corp, DocuMATION, The Tobin Endowment, University Health System and Wells Fargo Foundation.

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Events

Friday, May 3, 11:30 a.m.

McNair Scholars' Spring Celebration

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 Campus

Wednesday, May 15, 6:00 p.m.

Doctoral Conferral Ceremony

At 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 Campus

Thursday, May 16, 3:00 p.m.

Roadrunner Walk

Roadrunner 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 Campus

Friday, May 17, 10:00 a.m.

Commencement: Ceremony One

Celebrate 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.

Friday, May 17, 4:30 p.m.

Commencement: Ceremony Two

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.

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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 .

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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.