NEWS

Dedman scholar Juliet Suárez Calderón and Dedman student assistant Jasmarie Hernandez-Cañuelas helped rebrand the Austin chapter of the National Organization for Women, or Austin NOW. NOW’s five campaigns are: (1) End the Criminalization of Trauma; (2) Ratify the Equal Rights Amendment; (3) Mobilize for Reproductive Justice; (4) Advance Voting Rights; (5) Protect Immigrant Rights; and (6) Save the Supreme Court. Even though the Austin chapter is not new, these women, among other young women leaders in Austin, mobilized to bring fire and energy back to the chapter. They have already participated in multiple community events such as the Houstonians for Migrant Justice rally, Liz Winstead’s Abortion AF charity event, and will be co hosting the Texas National Period Day Rally at the capitol. Austin NOW meetings are every month and you can stay up to date on the latest happening by following the Austin NOW social media accounts. IG: Austin_NOW  FB: Austin NOW

The Dedman Distinguished Scholars Program is proud to welcome ten new scholars for the 2019-2020 academic year. Six new freshmen form our Humility Cohort, and four UT sophomores form our Courage Cohort. Read about their backgrounds and plans on our New Scholars Page. As the academic year began, the current students and alumni welcomed them aboard at the annual Induction Celebration, a riverboat sunset cruise on LadyBird Lake. We then kicked off the year together with all DDSP staff and the faculty mentors at the Fall Welcome Dinner on campus –a long-standing rite of passage for all Dedman Scholars. We welcome these new students with every best wish for their years ahead as part of our Dedman Scholars Community.

Dedman Scholar Senior Megan Abrameit, a double major in Psychology and Humanities,was honored with awards and scholarships as she graduated from UT’s Liberal Arts Honors program this June. Not only was she chosen as one of ten Dean’s Distinguished Graduates in the College of Liberal Arts, she also won the prestigious Randy Diehl Prize in Liberal Arts –a $17,000 award given to students who are dedicated to careers in service upon graduation. Megan will spend nextyear in Guatemala City interning with the International Justice Mission to continue her work combatting human trafficking. Read more about Megan’s work and plans in the Life & Letters Q&A.

Congratulations to Mayra Sharma, who won the prestigious Presidential Leadership Award for 2017! The Presidential Leadership Award was created in 1985 with an endowment from former Texas Exes president Frank Denius. The award recognizes undergraduates who have demonstrated outstanding leadership within the student community at UT. Every year, one sophomore, two juniors, and three seniors receive the award. Upon being selected, Mayra noted, “I am humbled by this award, and I am beyond excited for all that’s coming next.” Mayra is a Plan II & Neurosciences major studying the neurobiologogy of disease, among other subjects, and has an interest in pursuing public health policy work in the future. She has served as the panel chair for the Polymathic Scholars, is a teaching assistant for the Peer Educators program for the Counseling and Mental Health Center, works as a consultant for the Undergraduate Writing Center, and is the Student Government College of Natural Sciences Representative, 1 of 5 students elected to represent nearly 11,000 undergraduates.