Ray and Elizabeth Thomas have only three children, but they have paid the bill for college more than 40 times. It’s not a math error—the Austin College alumni have been supporting student opportunities since 1996, founding six separate scholarships. “We feel the hope of the future rests in an educated population. To us, scholarships are… [Read More]
Changing the Future
By Rebecca Russell Sykes ’67 Did you know that women’s philanthropy in the U.S. has created broad and deep societal change? Some scholars believe that, without women’s interest in improving life for all, the American experiment might not have gone so well. I want to share some of this story with you, as well as… [Read More]
A Penny and A Promise
As he walked across the stage on Hall Graduation Court, Tom Buttine ’07 stopped to shake President Oscar Page’s hand, just like all the other graduates. But then he did something else: he gave the Austin College president a penny. “He was a little confused, but I told him there were a lot more to… [Read More]
More Statistics
The Class of 2015 Academic preparation is evident. The average SAT score is 1260, with a middle 50 percent scoring between 1170 and 1320. The average ACT is 27, with a middle 50 percent at 24 to 29. The students were successful in high school, with 43 percent in the top 10 percent of their… [Read More]
The Beta Chi Omega Connection
In sharing details of their Mt. Everest climb, John and Mike told another story—many years of connection as alumni of Austin College’s Beta Chi Omega fraternity. The group has an annual reunion, most recently of 10 alumni in May. The men are proud to have stayed in touch, attributing that friendship to the rigors of… [Read More]
More About Mike and John
Mike: I’ve been climbing since ’91 and have climbed in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California, and Oregon, as well as Mexico and Thailand. Much of this has been on technical rock, with ropes and all the necessary gear. I would only describe my level of expertise as moderate, with many more… [Read More]
The Most Productive Time of My Life
The Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh once said, “Our own life has to be our message.” “Residing in Asia reinforced knowledge, updated research, and developed teaching during health epidemics, political struggles, and religious reformations,” said Ivette Vargas-O’Bryan. In 2009-2011, Ivette began as a Fulbright recipient in Hong Kong, engaged in research and writing throughout… [Read More]
Fission and The Science of Nuclear Physics
In 1945, as decisions were made about the use of the atomic bomb, U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson said that the men involved were not discussing just another weapon but “a new relationship of man to the universe.” Percival Keith led the engineering and development of the K-25 plant that separated fissionable uranium… [Read More]
Photos from the Celebration
More About RonAmber
Poetry A love poem for Tattoos 3AM Hustle or A Tribute to Homeless People Who Recycle Some of my music from both albums can be heard at: YouTube RonAmber and Emotion Brown who performed at AC several times Poetic remix to A Milli by Lil Wayne Ron Amber and The Last Poets in Rome, Italy