Senior Texas Exes Scholars Say Farewell (and Thanks)

By Tim Taliaferro in Scholarships on September 24, 2011 at 4:49 pm | No Comments

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Every fall, at the start of the new school year, the Texas Exes host a dinner for the recipients of the Texas Exes Awards for Scholarship and Leadership at which the seniors say their farewells.

This year, with the launch of the new Forty Acres Scholars program, the senior Texas Exes Scholars got to impart their wisdom on a crop of students just beginning their college careers.

What did they have to say? A lot.

“This scholarship actually changed my life before I even set foot on campus,” said Grace Kim, a Business Honors, finance, and Spanish major. “It brought me to Austin for interviews when I was a senior in high school, where I immediately fell in love with the city, the campus, and most importantly, the people I met. I was convinced UT was the place I wanted to call home for the next four years, and I have never for a single moment regretted my decision.”

“From the amazing spring trips to the incredible alumni that I have had the opportunity to meet, being a Texas Exes Scholar has truly made my time as a Longhorn unforgettable,” said Carly Brauer, a human development and family sciences major. “In getting to know my amazing fellow scholars, I was constantly inspired to do more and seek more. I was inspired to take on a leadership role in Young Life Capernaum, a special needs ministry that has allowed me to share my college life with some amazing young people with special needs that have stolen my heart. I was encouraged and challenged to explore beyond the 40 Acres, and spent five amazing months studying in Granada, Spain.”

“I received my class ring on this stage, I attended Eleanor’s retirement party here, and I have sung the Eyes of Texas with Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients in this room,” said Neven Simpson, an advertising major, “all experiences that are in some way related to my receiving this scholarship: a scholarship that has given me the freedom to explore everything UT has to offer without having to worry about financial burdens.”

This year’s seniors will be the second-to-last class of Texas Exes Scholars. Learn more about them here or and read three of their farewell speeches below.

Texas Exes Scholars Senior Speeches 2011

Tags: forty acres scholars, scholarship dinners, texas exes awards for scholarship and leadership, texas exes scholars, texas exes scholarship foundation