The African American Male Research Initiative (AAMRI) College for a Day program kept it real Wednesday, July 19, when 49 high school athletes from Houston’s Madison and Kashmere high schools visited UT Austin. Four students from Austin schools joined in the mentoring event, too.

Interim VP for Diversity and Community Engagement Leonard Moore kicked off the sessions with a welcome and interactive session on identifying personal weaknesses and learning how to overcome those challenges. That theme was carried out through interactive activities and sessions presented by AAMRI staff and graduate students.

Sessions included

• Building Relationships, Building Community;
• Pregame Preparation: What to Know Before Applying for College;
• The Black Man Abroad: Extending DuBois’ Notion of Double Consciousness; and
• Transferable Skills: From the Field to the Classroom to the Boardroom.

Later in the day, there was a panel about The Life of the Student Athlete, followed by everyone’s favorite part of the day–a tour of the Texas Athletic facilities and stadium.

AAMRI College for a Day programs are designed to increase high school males’ exposure to higher education. According to Dr. Ryan Sutton, director, many of these students have not had the opportunity to visit universities, and some will be first-generation college students. He explained,“By increasing their exposure to higher education, other individuals that look like them on campus (undergraduates, graduates, staff/faculty), and material that engages their critical thinking, they will walk away from this experience envisioning themselves as college students and possessing a mentality that says “I can do that!  This is for me!”

The next College for a Day event is Monday, July 24, when students from Houston’s North Forest and Wheatley high schools visit.