Representing the Class of 2016: Stopping for a photo during lunch are, left to right, seated, J.P. Seale of Houston, Texas; Andy Villarreal of Shady Shores, Texas; and Jade Ross of Austin, Texas; standing, Askhay Shetty of El Paso, Texas; Phyllis Goode of Lubbock, Texas; Phillip Friedman of Temple Texas; Kat Jones of Austin, Texas; Sandra Nworkorie of Allen, Texas; Jinsu Kim of Busan, Korea; and Masha Ali of Sugar Land, Texas. Each of these students and the legacy students below received Austin College scholarships or grants in support of their education.
The Austin College Class of 2016 already is making its mark by bucking a trend in higher education.Women outnumber men on the campuses of most U.S. colleges and universities today, but of the 308 freshmen who enrolled at Austin College in September, 52 percent were men.
In other ways the class is much like other Austin College classes before it. The majority of students, 89 percent, come from Texas—but from every corner of the state. They represent 26 other states also, from California to Minnesota, New Hampshire to Georgia. Of those living in the U.S., 10 are citizens of China, India, Ghana, Mexico, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela. Eight international residents also are among the class, coming from China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, Netherlands, and the Republic of Korea. Austin College continues to recruit a multicultural class, with nearly 34 percent of students self-identifying as ethnic minorities.
Though Austin College is related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), not all students are Presbyterian—far from it. Of the students in the Class of 2016 who indicated a religious preference, the top four listed, in order, were Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, and then Presbyterian.
Several students continued an Austin College family tradition—45 freshmen had some legacy connection. Among them were, shown at right, Reed Cook with dad Paul Cook ’85 and Cleo Almond with dad Greg Almond ’89. Many follow siblings, and a few continue their grandparents’ Austin College legacy.
Academic excellence continues with the middle 50 percent of SAT scores falling between 1140 and 1320 (ACT, between 23 and 29).
Students represent nearly every sort of high school organization from athletics to student government, prom kings and homecoming queens to Model UN, band to yearbook and choir. Most regularly volunteered in high school. The class includes at least nine Eagle Scouts and two Girl Scout Gold Awardees. Many have traveled beyond the U.S., and some have visited many countries—at least five were People to People cultural exchange ambassadors.
Many members of the class have overcome physical and emotional challenges and experienced tragedies and the loss of parents and family and friends, but they persevere. They’ve had spiritual epiphanies and held jobs and gone on missions trips. And they’ve got big goals for the future.
Yes, they’re Kangaroos!