Freshman Admissions Center Demetra Durham

Hometown: Richardson, Texas

College Major: Education

Territory: Dallas-Fort Worth Area

Office: Dallas Admissions Center

Phone: 214-559-0268

E-mail: demetra.durham@austin.utexas.edu

Q: Where are you from?
A: I was born and raised in Richardson, Texas—just north of Dallas. I attended Lake Highlands High School where I was a member of the marching band, played the clarinet and was drum major my senior year.

Q: Where did you go to college? What did you study in college?
A: I attended Midwestern State University, in Wichita Falls, Texas, where I received my bachelor’s degree in applied arts and sciences. I changed my major several times in college from radiology to education to sociology and then back to education. (What can I say? It happens.)

Q: How long have you been working in admissions?
A: I found my calling working as a student assistant in the Office of Admissions at Midwestern State University. I also worked as a student recruiter and a college day host. My experiences as a student worker in the Office of Admissions opened many doors for me and allowed me to pursue a career in higher education. Here I am three years later, and I am still pursuing a career in a field that I’m passionate about.

Q: Why do you enjoy working with students?
A: I absolutely enjoy meeting students and sharing with them the opportunities that UT Austin has to offer. I believe that each student should have the chance to find out what they are passionate about and discover how to pursue their goals in life. Going to college is a scary event for a lot of students (and parents). I truly enjoy helping students navigate the application process and helping them get all the information they need to be successful during their college career.

Q: What are some of your favorite things to do in Austin?
A: I love Austin because there is always something to do. You can go to Sixth Street to listen to live music and meet up with friends or just spend some time on campus visiting some of the libraries and museums on a quiet evening. Since the weather is always warm here, you can also walk around Zilker Park or take a boat ride on one of the nearby lakes.

Q: What is your favorite UT Austin fact?
A: There are many interesting facts and stories that I like about the university, but my favorite story is the history behind the running of the huge Texas flag at Texas athletics events.

In 1962, the Texas Longhorns played Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. At halftime, the Ole Miss Band unfurled a huge Texas flag measuring 51 feet wide and 90 feet long. After the game (which Texas won 12-7), the flag was presented to Texas Governor Price Daniel as a gesture of Southern hospitality. Governor Daniel gave it to the Longhorn Band and the flag eventually made its way to the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity who has taken over the responsibility of “running the flag” at various UT Austin sporting events ever since.

The fraternity has three flags of varying sizes. The largest flag used by Alpha Phi Omega is the largest Texas flag in the world. It measures 75 feet by 125 feet and weighs about 500 pounds. It’s unfurled on the football field during the pregame festivities at all home football games. Learn more about the flag on the flag’s Wikipedia page.

Advice to Students

• Do your research and start the college selection and application process early! Make sure that the university that you are applying to is the right fit for your educational needs. Try to choose a school that feels like a home away from home for the next four years of your life.
• Tour the campus to get a feel for what it is like to be a student for the day. Ask current students what it is like to be a student. Talk to them about what it is like living on campus or off campus. Find out how students spend their time when they are not in class.
• Get involved your freshman year. Pick one or two student organizations or clubs to join as a freshman. This will help you meet other people with similar interests and form friendships that may end up lasting a lifetime.