NEWS FROM THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS A CITY OF ARLINGTON AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON PARTNERSHIP SPRING 2013 UT ARLINGTON CELEBRATES Maverick and OU fans alike lingered for the After Party, danced A Homecoming to Remember to live music, and played carnival-style games under a starry sky. The rest of Homecoming weekend featured an Arlington t was a perfect November weekend. Cool temperatures, sunny skies, State College reunion, student leader and MavElite alumni receptions, and an all-Greek reunion, as well new events like a light breezes. But something else was in the air, too: anticipation, 5K walk/run and a Homecoming golf tournament. There was I also a step show, chili cook-off, concerts, and The Bash dance energy, and excitement for the return of fall Homecoming at party. On Monday, Homecoming festivities continued as the The University of Texas at Arlington. University formally dedicated the College Park District. Dennis Wiles, senior pastor of First Baptist Church-Arlington, Mayor Centering Homecoming on men’s and women’s basketball to Mitchell Street—had been renamed Spaniolo Drive in honor Cluck, and President Spaniolo joined a group of UT Arlington games has been a tradition at UT Arlington for years. But this of the president. students on stage for a digital ribbon cutting and virtual tour fall, that tradition was enhanced by the Maverick’s spectacular After a record 85 floats, golf carts, and other acts traversed of the district. (See “Your new dining and entertainment new home court, the College Park Center, and pre- and post- Spaniolo Drive, the parade concluded with a pep rally featuring destination awaits” on page 3 for more about the public game festivities that began on November 15 and ran through the Maverick spirit squads, marching band, and the Wranglers amenities in College Park District.) November 19. spirit group. Fired-up fans flooded into the College Park Center After the dedication, the Maverick Speakers Series presented On Friday, the Party on Pecan featured live music, food, for the main event: A match-up between the UT Arlington Seth Meyers, Saturday Night Live head writer and “Weekend and fan prep areas where the community gathered to paint Maverick men’s basketball team and the Oklahoma Sooners. Update” anchor. Local NBC5 sports anchor Newy Scruggs their faces and hair blue and orange. Deejays and “man on the The game drew a record crowd of 6,421 and saw the helped the University welcome Meyers to a sold-out College street” student emcees energized the crowd. Mavericks play with heart, losing by only four points in the Park Center crowd. Next came the Homecoming Parade, which drew close to final seconds of the game. That weekend, the the women’s “The 2012 Fall Homecoming was a spectacular array of new 3,000 students, staff, faculty, alumni, fans, and neighbors. The basketball team also played against Oral Roberts University, and enhanced activities and events,” says Frank Lamas, vice parade kicked off with a big surprise to everyone, including while the Maverick volleyball team clinched a spot in the president for student affairs. “It was great to see our community UT Arlington President James D. Spaniolo. Arlington Mayor Western Athletic Conference Tournament with their victory come together and enjoy our beautiful campus, and it was a Robert Cluck unveiled a new sign signaling that the portion of at home against the squad from Louisiana Tech. wonderful opportunity to show our love for UT Arlington and Pecan Street owned by the University—from UTA Boulevard Following the men’s game, fireworks lit up the night sky as our Maverick spirit and pride.” LET’S GO MAVS UT Arlington begins its home season at Clay Gould Spring sports swing into action Ballpark Feb. 15 with a three-game series against Louisiana T Arlington began its first and last season in the Tech. Their other home games include matches against UWestern Athletic Conference this year (the University Oklahoma, TCU, Baylor, and Texas State, among others. will join the Sun Belt in 2014). Men’s and women’s Softball is starting with a first-year coaching staff led by basketball is well underway, while the seasons for both the head coach Kristie Fox and assistants Meagan Denny-White baseball and softball teams open this month with sky-high and Vanessa Soto. The Mavericks open at Allan Saxe Field on expectations from the players, coaches, and fans. March 1 with the start of the UTA Tournament. The baseball team returns a number of starters from last A number of men’s and women’s home basketball games year’s Southland Conference champions, including decorated at College Park Center are also on tap through early March. shortstop Ryan Walker and starting pitcher John Beck. Visit utamavs.com to find schedules and ticket information. VISIT US ON THE WEB: WWW.UTA.EDU/COLLEGETOWN AROUND TOWN MAKING AN IMPACT SUPPORTING VETERANS Survey shows University The study also found that UT Arlington generates New program provides free $1.1 billion in total annual economic benefits to the state and helps local and state economy more than 15,400 permanent jobs, which includes $502.7 academic support T Arlington has made a big impression on the state million in output and 5,861 person-years of employment in f all the states in the nation, Texas has the second- Uof Texas—and we do mean big. According to a recent the North Central Texas region related to recent and ongoing Ohighest population of veterans. Now, thanks to a recent assessment of the University’s operations, research, and University construction projects. grant from the U.S. Department of Education, UT Arlington workforce enhancement, UT Arlington has a $13.6 billion Ray Perryman, president of the The Perryman Group, has a new way to help them transition back to the workforce. total annual impact on the state and fuels 131,200 jobs a year. says the UT Arlington study reinforces his earlier findings Veterans Upward Bound was launched last fall to serve Conducted by The Perryman Group, about the potential economic impact vets who are low-income or the first in their families to attend BUSINESS ACTIVITY IMPACT REPORT a prominent consulting firm, the additional Tier One institutions can have college. The grant allows for 135 participants and provides economic study analyzed data ranging on Texas. free counseling, mentoring, pre-college academic instruction, from enrollment and ongoing University “When you look at the hard data, tutoring, and other support. UT Arlington is one of 51 operations to expanding research institutions like UT Arlington are major universities nationwide to receive such a grant. activity and the enhanced workforce centers of employment and spinoff Veterans Upward Bound provides instruction in productivity of graduates, among other economic benefits,” he states. “They mathematics, laboratory science, foreign language, factors. UT Arlington’s impact reflects generate business activity and composition, and literature. The program may also provide about 4 percent of the North Central opportunities for their immediate short-term remedial or refresher courses for veterans who Texas economy; economic activity FUELING ECONOMIC GROWTH region, and they are one of the state’s are high school graduates but have delayed pursuing post- WITH INNOVATION AND INGENUITY associated with the University also leads most important sources of talent and secondary education. In addition to academic support, to incremental tax receipts of about $310 technology—critical components of a participants also receive advice on scholarships, grants, and million a year to local governments and Read the report at uta.edu/economicimpact healthy economy.” federal assistance for which they qualify. $639 million to the state. Among the factors fueling “We are committed to helping our veterans, many of whom President James D. Spaniolo says the Perryman report UT Arlington’s economic impact are the enrollment growth are fresh out of combat and need extra support and confidence underscores the significant advantage diverse and active over the past five years to more than 33,200 students, as well to achieve their educational goals,” says Lisa Thompson, research institutions give their regions and the state overall. as record numbers of degrees conferred in the 2011-2012 director of UT Arlington’s TRIO Pre-College Programs. “This report clearly demonstrates the tremendous benefit fiscal year, record levels of research activity, and record levels For more information on Veterans Upward Bound, visit UT Arlington brings to North Central Texas and the Texas of recent construction activity, with the completion of the www.uta.edu/veteransub. economy overall,” Spaniolo says. “Our students, alumni, and Engineering Research Complex as well as the 20-acre College faculty provide a highly educated workforce to our region and Park District. COMMUNITY SNAPSHOT are constantly advancing innovation and new technologies. “The data makes a compelling case for ongoing investment Their work helps make North Texas one of the nation’s best in public institutions like The University of Texas at places to live.” Arlington,” says Perryman. SNL Star Shines to attract new philanthropic commitments. Arnold Petsche’s gift to the University will fund a A cornerstone of the Arnold E. prestigious new center for Petsche Center for Automotive automotive engineering. Engineering will be student participation in Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) competitions, for which both engineering and non- Saturday Night Live head writer Seth Meyers not only brought engineering majors conceive, his comedy act to College Park Center, but he also invited design, and build a race car to pit students on stage during the Q&A portion of his November Maverick Speakers Series performance. against teams from around the world. UT Arlington has been Honoring Veterans competing for 31 years in formula racing with a record eight first-place finishes in the United States, England, Australia, and Japan.