Influencing the Longhorn Life Staff Newsletter
Published: April 1, 2025
Making a Difference: Programs
Student and staff volunteers with the Office of the Dean of Students returned to Austin’s Dove Springs neighborhood for The Project’s Follow-Up Day. Volunteers worked alongside community members to complete a list of projects they began during The Project in November 2024, the University’s largest day of service.
Staff from the Office of the Dean of Students accompanied students to New Orleans and Washington, D.C. during Spring Break as part of the Alternative Breaks program. Students participated in community service projects.
The Office of the Dean of Students and Disability and Access teamed up for the Career Kickstart event, aimed at getting all Longhorns on the path to career success. The event was hosted by First-Gen Longhorns, RGV Familia, Bevo Buddy!, Longhorn TIES and Horns Helping Horns, and included professional headshots, resume reviews and mock interviews.
RecSports partnered with Nike on Intramural Soccer Championship Finals at Wright-Whitaker Complex, elevating the championship experience for the Coed A, Women’s A, and Men’s A divisions. Spectators enjoyed high-energy competition, exclusive activations, and giveaways. Check out the photos.
RecSports helped students celebrate the start of spring at RecSports Recess. The movement-based event featured volleyball, disc golf, and badminton on Gregory Gym Plaza. Participants received a free Nike t-shirt. View the photos.
The annual Friends of RecSports Bob Childress Classic brought together RecSports alumni, friends and staff. Proceeds benefit the RecSports Excellence Fund which helps the department maintain the highest quality programs, events and facilities for today’s students and generations of Longhorns to come. See the photo gallery.
University Unions’ Campus Events+Entertainment hosted two longstanding campus traditions open to all students:
- The 32nd annual Forty Acres Fest brought live music and carnival on the Main Mall for 5,000 students. Before headliner A$AP FERG took the stage, many Longhorn musicians enjoyed a real-world performance experience, including Camille Stites (Battle of the Bands winner), Audrey Price, Bloom, Mango Coast, Nate & the Moon Band, Brooke Michelle, and Martin Leon.
- Texas Revue, UT Austin’s more-than-a-century-old talent show, included performances from 15 student acts. Jordan Cordel won first place, the best technical act was Nritya Sangam and the audience favorite was Martin Leon. Check out the photos.
The Student Health Advisory Committee's Health, Initiatives and Projects (HIP) subcommittee collaborated with the Disability Cultural Center to organize the event “Expanding Perspectives: A Conversation about Disability in Healthcare." Experts in disability and healthcare led discussions, using conversation guides to facilitate dialogue, share knowledge and encourage participants to exchange experiences related to disability in healthcare.
University Health Services' expanded the Student Clinical Assistant Program to include roles in Sports Medicine, in addition to Urgent Care. The program offers paid, hands-on clinical experience for students pursuing careers in healthcare and medical sciences, combining education with real-world application. Find out what students are learning in this story.
Making a Difference: Spaces
The Cactus Café is now partnering with the Armadillo World Headquarters to present the Songwriters’ Open Mic. These weekly events feature original music from talented local artists, including aspiring student performers, and this new collaboration helps ensure the events continue to benefit students and community.
Staff can take advantage of one-dollar bowling (one dollar per game) at the Texas Union Underground every Tuesday. The Underground also has new additions to the menu of snacks and drinks.
Making a Difference: Resources
The Office of the Dean of Students co-hosted the biannual UT Marketplace with Texas Student Media. The bazaar of student opportunity allows off-campus exhibitors to distribute information about their products, services and career opportunities directly to students, faculty and staff.
Registration is open for RecSports Recharge, an event on April 23 designed exclusively for faculty and staff to unwind and recharge before the academic year ends. The event features movement-based activities, giveaways, a complimentary lunch, and a free RecSports t-shirt while supplies last. Register now on your own or as a group.
Longhorn TIES collaborated with the Fine Arts Library to host the recurring Fidget Friday event at the Foundry makerspace. Student enjoyed make-and-take activities using 3D printers, laser cutters and sewing machines.
Health and well-being professionals shared valuable resources with students at these events:
- The Longhorn Wellness Center and SHIFT helped students have a safe spring break by collaborating on a tabling event to share safer substance use and harm reduction resources.
- Healthyhorns outreach staff attended the third annual Paws for Public Art event hosted by UT Landmarks. Designed to promote student wellness through art and animals, the event brought petting zoos to campus, featuring various art installations.
- The Longhorn SHARE Project team attended the biannual McCombs Wellness Fair to promote the Longhorn Wellness Center and well-being resources and activities for McCombs students.
SHIFT collaborated with Mike Mackert’s “Health Communication: Messages, Campaigns, and the Media” class on a marketing project to promote zero-proof drinks and SHIFT Maker services to students. SHIFT’s Kate Lower and Aurora Lujan attended the class to listen to the presentations and provide feedback.