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New Group of Terry Scholars Joins the University This Fall

students seated on stairs

Among this year’s new Terry Scholars are 14 freshmen, including two valedictorians, four AP Scholars and one National Hispanic Scholar.

The University of Texas at Dallas welcomed 22 new Terry Scholars this fall: 14 freshmen and eight transfer students.

Overall, the 99 Terry Scholars enrolled at UT Dallas will receive combined awards of more than $2.2 million this year. Since 2006, the Terry Foundation has given more than $17 million to the University’s 300 scholars.

The Terry Foundation’s mission is to improve and develop the state of Texas by helping Texas students, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, attend the state’s finest public universities. In its 30 years, the foundation has provided more than $244 million to help more than 5,400 students across the state.

The Terry Scholars are selected for scholastic achievement, leadership and service. Of this year’s freshmen — six women and eight men — two are valedictorians, four are AP Scholars and one is a National Hispanic Scholar. One is part of the USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program, and two participated in the Clark Summer Research Program at UT Dallas this year.

The transfer-student scholars, whose average age is 24, substantively contribute to the Terry Scholars Program by serving as mentors whose experiences offer different perspectives for the traditional scholars.

“This year, applicants from out of town were the highest they’ve ever been,” said Blythe Torres, the program’s director at UT Dallas. She credited the growing recognition of the University’s strong academic reputation and the benefits of the Terry Scholars Program, which resides in the Hobson Wildenthal Honors College, with drawing students from places such as Houston and San Antonio.

“Applicants are well-versed in what our University has to offer — not just academically, but socially and culturally, as well. They are also aware of the unique opportunities offered to Terry Scholars at UT Dallas,” Torres said. “High school and transfer students want to take advantage of the activities and vast resources available here.”

The Terry scholarships cover a broad range of student expenses over four years of study, including tuition and fees, housing, books and living expenses.

Additionally, the Terry Foundation provides funding over and above the scholarship to scholars who study abroad. Approved programs take place from two weeks to a semester, with financial support of $5,000.

Last year, to mark three decades of scholarship assistance, the Terry Foundation emphasized a year of service and challenged the scholars to increase their service to others. UT Dallas scholars rose to the occasion by providing more than 1,300 hours of community service, including collecting 1,200 cans for the North Texas Food Bank and spending their spring break in Houston helping with Hurricane Harvey recovery.

“Every year, the scholars are thinking more broadly and creatively about how to pay it forward,” Torres said. “This includes identifying more local and national organizations that can use their assistance. When studying or interning abroad, they are including volunteer projects to have cultural exchanges with their local community.

“The Terry Foundation Scholarship enables them to attend a prestigious university and graduate debt-free, thereby allowing them to pursue opportunities they might not otherwise have had, including helping their families and communities.”

The Terry Foundation, based in Houston and founded in 1986, also supports students attending UT Arlington, UT Austin, UT El Paso, UT San Antonio, Texas A&M University, the University of Houston, Texas State University, the University of North Texas, Texas Tech University, Texas Woman’s University, Sam Houston State University and Texas A&M University at Galveston.

students seated on stairs

Eight transfer-student scholars are among the 99 Terry Scholars enrolled at UT Dallas this fall.

Media Contact: The Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, [email protected].