Regents honor students in arts and humanities
AUSTIN – In recognition of their exceptional work in the musical arts, five University of Texas at Austin students have been selected to receive the Regents’ Outstanding Student Awards in Arts and Humanities.
The students were honored at The University of Texas System Board of Regents’ meeting on Thursday, for demonstrating musical excellence and commitment to the arts through participation in university and community activities.
Flutist Meera Gudipati was selected as winner of outstanding instrumental performance by an individual or duo category. While working to perfect her craft as a musician focused on bringing classical music to life, she finds joy in exploring different ways of connecting the community to music.
“In every opportunity, I am not only an ambassador of classical music but also a source of cultural and social exchange,” Gudipati said. “Music has proven to influence, impact and captivate people throughout history and around the world, and I wish to do the same.”
The UT Guitar Quartet, an undergraduate ensemble that includes UT Austin students Thales Smith, Kyle Comer, Carlos Martinez and Tyler Rhodes, was selected as winner of outstanding musical performance by a group. The quartet has received numerous accolades for their musical prowess and has worked extensively with UT Austin’s Butler School of Music to bring high quality classical music to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience it.
The Regents’ Outstanding Student Awards program is designed to provide a framework that fosters excellence in student performance, rewards outstanding students, stimulates the arts and humanities and promotes continuous quality in education. A $1,500 monetary award for solo/duet performance and a $2,500 award for group performance will be made to the academic department designated by the winning student(s).
“The extraordinary talent displayed by the award winners this year is truly remarkable,” Regents Chairman Paul Foster said. “As a board, we congratulate each of these students on their incredible dedication to the arts and wish them continued success.”
Established in February 2012, the Regents’ Outstanding Student Awards in Arts and Humanities will vary each year and commend students at UT System institutions excelling in one of three disciplines: musical arts, visual arts and creative writing.
“The arts and humanities play a vital role in helping to create world-class laboratories of learning,” Chancellor William H. McRaven said. “Every day, we’re striving to create environments where our students can learn to become more engaged and culturally aware – the value of the arts in helping our campuses to achieve this is tremendous.”
To learn more about the nomination and evaluation process or for details on past and future awards, please visit the Regents’ Outstanding Students Awards in Arts and Humanities website.
About The University of Texas System
Educating students, providing care for patients, conducting groundbreaking research and serving the needs of Texans and the nation for more than 130 years, The University of Texas System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States, with nine academic universities, six health institutions and an enrollment of more than 214,000. The UT System confers more than one-third of the state’s undergraduate degrees, educates two-thirds of the state’s health care professionals annually and accounts for almost 70 percent of all research funds awarded to public universities in Texas. The UT System has an annual operating budget of $15.6 billion (FY 2015) including $3 billion in sponsored programs funded by federal, state, local and private sources. With about 90,000 employees, the UT System is one of the largest employers in the state.
