The University of North Texas battle flag flys near Apogee Stadium on the Denton campus
Football is coming to Denton! Have you secured your season tickets to cheer on the Mean Green? Ticket packages start at $65 and we have many great options, including those for young alumni!
Straight from Smatresk

Dear Alum,

It's been a busy and great summer at UNT! Our summer enrollment increased this year, which means students stay on track for graduation and prepare for the time they will leave our eagles' nest to begin their careers. In addition to countless summer camps, including UNT's Science Summer Academy, we've had hundreds of prospective students and their families on campus for tours and — best of all — I've had the pleasure of welcoming #UNT22 and our newest transfer students into the Mean Green family. The time I get to spend with our students is the best part of my job!

Our student-athletes also have been busy this summer, training and conditioning for what should be an exciting year. Mean Green football has been grinding on the gridiron in preparation for the Sept. 1 home opener against SMU. The team returns nine offensive and eight defensive starters from last season's West Division championship team and was selected by the media to win the division again. Quarterback Mason Fine was named to the Davey O'Brien watch list and the Mean Green were front and center during Conference USA's recent media day. It was neat to see North Texas head coach Seth Littrell, Fine and linebacker E.J. Ejiya featured on ESPN3 discussing the upcoming season during C-USA media day.

I hope you'll join us this season at Apogee Stadium to cheer on the Mean Green and support our student-athletes and spirit squads. You'll get to see the new turf on the field and alumni can join us at the Alumni Pavilion's new Diamond Eagles Family Patio. In addition to purchasing season football tickets, I recommend the Mean Green Sports Pass, which for $75 allows fans to attend every 2018-19 regular-season volleyball, soccer and softball game. Basketball conference schedules recently were announced and it's not too early to reserve season tickets for men's and women's basketball. UNT's athletic programs are truly on the rise, and I hope you'll join us this year to support our teams.

UNT Proud,
Neal Smatresk
President
President Smatresk on Twitter @UNTPrez

The Inside Scoop
Photoshoot soars higher
Flying by Daniel Ebomwonyi. A woman is reclining in the air.
A photo shoot by UNT senior Daniel Ebomwonyi received national attention, including a Twitter shout-out from model and actress Tyra Banks. Daniel set up a trampoline on campus to shoot the photos, which have been liked by more than 154,000 people on Twitter. In the photos, UNT sophomore Halimat Shokunbi looks like she's flying, courtesy of the trampoline jumping. Creativity and innovation are the lifeblood of UNT, and I love seeing what our students are capable of!
 
 
 
 
 
 
Watch WFAA's piece on photographer Daniel Ebonwonyi »
Going for a Guinness record
Andrew Torget
An entire semester's worth of Texas history will be compressed into one 24-hour lecture as UNT history professor Andrew Torget attempts to secure a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Dr. Torget's lesson will begin at 9 a.m. Aug. 24 in the University Union Lyceum and continue until at least 3 p.m. Aug. 25. Guests are welcome to attend to serve as witnesses of the record-breaking attempt, or watch on the UNT Libraries livestream. In conjunction with Dr. Torget's lesson, UNT Libraries is raising funds to support The Portal to Texas History, an online resource that provides free access to rare, historical and primary source materials from or about Texas.
 
 
Join us to witness Dr. Torget's
world record attempt »
Spotlight on Excellence
Saurabh Nene
Research discovery leads to alloy that is five times stronger than steel

It doesn't have a catchy name like Captain America's proto-adamantium shield or Black Panther's vibranium, but a new steel-like alloy designed sby postdoctoral research Saurabh Nene (left), is five times stronger than stainless steel made under similar processing conditions. A researcher in the Center for Friction Stir Processing in the UNT College of Engineering's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Dr. Nene is working to find a cost-effective way to produce the new alloy, which combines iron, manganese, cobalt, chromium and silicon through induction melting, casting and Friction Stir Processing.

Alysha Adams competing in a hurdles event
Champions Weekend to honor Hall of Fame athletes

Five sports and five decades — that's what UNT Athletics is representing in the 2018 North Texas Hall of Fame class. The class was selected by dues-paying members of the North Texas Letterwinners Association, previous inductees to the UNT Hall of Fame and the North Texas Hall of Fame Selection Committee. The winners will be inducted during a Champions Weekend dinner Oct. 12 and honored Oct. 13 during the UNT football game against Southern Miss. Congratulations to the members of the 2018 North Texas Hall of Fame:

  • Track and field record-setter Alysha Adams ('11), who currently holds the school indoor records in the 200-meter dash and 55-meter hurdles.
  • Softball star Mallory Cantler ('10, '11 M.B.A.), who holds career school records for doubles, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, fielding and multiple-hit games.
  • Melvin Davis, also known as "Lurch," who attended UNT from 1975 to 1978 and was crucial to legendary UNT Basketball Coach Bill Blakeley's 20-win teams.
  • Three-time all-conference wide receiver James Russell, who attended UNT from 1965 to 1967.
  • Gwynn Sammel, who attended UNT from 1979 to 1982 and is the winningest player in the history of UNT tennis.
UNT cheerleaders at a fair, posing for a photo.
Aug. 24 designated UNT Day at the North Texas Fair

Grab your boots and join us Aug. 24 for UNT Day at the North Texas Fair and Rodeo. The fair features a concert headlined by country music group and UNT alumni Eli Young Band, professional and youth rodeos, livestock shows, a dedicated Kid Zone and many more special attractions. I'll be there, along with Head Football Coach Seth Littrell, the North Texas Dancers, North Texas Cheer and Scrappy. Discounted group tickets are on sale through the UNT Alumni Association at $15 for members and $20 for non-members. All tickets include a wristband loaded with $5 for concession and beverages. Bring your family and enjoy a night with your UNT family at the North Texas Fair and Rodeo.

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