UTA affiliation: M.B.A. student and 2004 graduate

Stopped: 8:12 p.m. April 19 in the E.H. Hereford University Center following the Leadership Recognition Ceremony

What’s the cup for?
It goes to the winner of the Matthew E. Brown Award, which recognizes UTA’s most outstanding student leader.

Tell me about your leadership experiences.
I’ve been a student recruiter for the Office of Admissions, an orientation leader captain for two years, vice president and Fight Night chair of the Sigma Chi fraternity, peer mentor, peer educator, adviser for the Mav Maniacs, Mr. UTA, Homecoming king and Student Congress president.

What was the highlight of your year as SC president?
The highlight of the past year is definitely tonight, seeing that students voted to approve the student life initiative.

What is the student life initiative?
It’s a referendum asking students to support a $6-per-semester-credit-hour increase to fund a complete renovation of the Activities Building as well as a portion of the operating costs for a new special events center (see story).

Why was it important that this referendum pass?
Both of these are much-needed facilities on campus. Texas Hall was not made to host Division I athletic events, and it is not big enough to host major speakers, convocations or even graduation ceremonies. Our Activities Building is also not able to support a student body of 26,000 students. I believe the passage of this referendum lays the infrastructure to support a growing student body and will positively affect students during their time at UTA.

What are your plans once you finish your M.B.A.?
As soon as this semester is over, I’m going to work full time as an intern for the Dallas Cowboys, working on the stadium development. I’m going to take at least a semester off from school and then start back gradually, either in spring 2006 or the following fall semester.

You’ve done some politicking as SC president. Ever considered a career in politics?
I’m very interested in politics, and I have been an intern for Congressman Joe Barton. I don’t know exactly what I want to run for, either at the state or federal level, but I do look forward to public service in the future.

— Mark Permenter