UTA welcomes newest Mavericks at start of 2018-2019 academic year
UTA President Vistasp Karbhari wants students to know they have a new home – The University of Texas at Arlington.
That message has to resonate especially with this year’s freshmen students, who represent a class larger than last year. Preliminary enrollment figures show that the incoming freshman class increased 3 percent over fall 2017 freshman numbers.
The president, university officials, student leaders and UTA alumnus and radio personality Rock T addressed a boisterous student crowd Tuesday in Texas Hall during the 2018 MavsMeet Convocation.
“Welcome to Maverick Country,” President Karbhari said. “I will hope that each of you will from today forward consider The University of Texas at Arlington your home. You are the budding musicians, artists and architects, biologist and nurses, physicists and engineers, political scientists and philosophers, teachers and social workers, and so much more.”
Karbhari urged the students to believe in themselves.
“Have faith in yourselves. Never be scared of stretching beyond your bounds,” Karbhari said. “Believe that you can be the very best in your field and that you can make the impossible – possible. I believe you can and so should you.”
President Karbhari also acknowledged and thanked a variety of student and staff organizations that support the new student admissions and orientation processes. A Facebook Live video of some of the student performances can be seen here.
Rock T, a former UTA baseball player, alumnus and radio personality, offered similar advice.
“Find mentors,” Rock T said. “And you don’t have to fine one with years and years of experience. Just find mentors who can be those positive voices.”
Rock T urged students to stay away from the “dream killers,” too. He said no one ever thought he’d be a radio personality and yet he’s on one of the most popular shows in the country.
“The role to success is to always be under construction,” Rock T said.
Students were pumped upon leaving Texas Hall for the after party on the library mall.
Jesus Sanchez, a freshman mechanical engineering major, said he loved the vibe at the convocation.
“I felt welcomed,” said Sanchez, who is from nearby Keene. “It was exciting. I’m ready to start.”
Dana Skaggs, a freshman nursing major from Mansfield, said the convocation made her proud to be at UTA. “It was a great opening to the semester,” she said.