GREAT GRAD: I knew from an early age that I wanted to work with people. Working in human resources allows me to meet a huge number of people and work as an intermediary between employees and upper management. UNT New College at Frisco offers a specific degree in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management that gave me the experience I needed to land internships and explore employment opportunities. I also knew I wanted to get through college debt-free. While I was still in high school, I approached my local community college and asked to begin taking classes. They agreed to take me on. I attended high school and community college while working a full-time job during summers to save money for my education. On the day of my high school graduation, I attended community college classes in the morning, went to work in the afternoon, attended graduation, then rushed home to finish my homework for class. I missed all of the graduation celebration dinners and parties that evening. But my community college credits allowed me to enter UNT as a junior. I qualified for scholarships and saved money to graduate debt-free in 2 years. I’m only the 2nd person in my family to graduate from college, and I’m so excited to celebrate my success with them. Graduating from UNT meant making up for all that I missed. I bought announcements, walked in graduation and attended all of our UNT parties. I also planned a graduation dinner with family and friends to commemorate the culmination of this amazing journey. I can’t wait for the next phase of my life to begin as I start my career. (Sarah Holick, University of North Texas College of Business – Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management)

Learning doesn’t end once you earn your degree! Have you considered earning a certificate through one of our colleges? UNT offers a variety of options for professional development, many of which are online. Summer is a great time to get started! Learn more: http://bit.ly/UNTcertificates

UNT has been named a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for 10 consecutive years! To honored this milestone, UNT Facilities partnered with Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc., the City of Denton, TX - City Hall and UNT We Mean Green to plant new trees along Maple Street. We’re proud to keep our campus #UNTgreen!

This video may be a few years old, but our feelings haven’t changed! Check out this throwback to the State of the University 2014 to see a few reasons why we love UNT. What’s your #myUNT story? https://youtu.be/miMOoHpiuZI

GREAT GRAD: My college journey has been in the works for more than 40 years. I received a 4-year academic scholarship after graduating from high school in 1968, but when I started college the following year, I felt lost. No one in my family had ever graduated from college, so I didn’t have the resources or support that I needed. I didn’t try to go back until 1981. By then, both my husband and I were working full time and trying to raise our son and daughter. Each time I would try to finish my degree, I would find it too challenging to manage a job, school and family − or we were relocating to another state. My husband and son are both deceased now. Prior to moving to Texas, I visited my daughter, Teresa McKinney and her family who had relocated to Texas in 2013, following her acceptance of the position as AVP for the UNT Division of Student Affairs. The more I visited, the more I loved the area. I also wanted to be closer to her and her family who also are pursuing UNT degrees. Teresa’s husband, daughter, son and niece are all students here. In 2016, I decided once and for all to finish what I had started in 1968. In terms of the transition to UNT, it was very smooth. People here did what they could to accommodate my degree endeavors, and they accepted quite a few of my transfer credits. I’m slated to graduate in August, with honors, but I walked this May. I have a strong background in business and sociology, so my first goal is to pursue part-time work with a nonprofit entity working with Alzheimer’s disease. My family and I witnessed the devastating way in which that disease stripped away my mother’s ability to function and interact with the people she loved and who loved her. No matter where I eventually settle, I’m confident that God will lead and direct me toward what is best. (Linda Parker, Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences)

Friday is UNT Night at Globe Life Park in Arlington​! Show your Texas Rangers​ and Mean Green pride with a limited edition UNT baseball hat. Claim yours by ordering game tickets online: http://bit.ly/UNT2018.

This #MentalHealth Month, we celebrate Rachel Wilson – a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and UNT graduate student studying Animal Assisted Therapy as a way to handle trauma. Rachel also was named “Shero” by Brawny Towels in their #StrengthHasNoGender campaign. After earning her master’s degree in Counseling, Rachel plans to serve veterans and their families using equine therapy. Rachel, you make us #UNTproud! Read more: http://bit.ly/2IIXEE1 Video Credit: Brawny Towels https://youtu.be/fXz6Y_ex0V0

GREAT GRAD: I’ve always been interested in medicine, but didn’t learn about the field of physical therapy until I got a stress fracture during my senior cross country season at Lamar High School. After experiencing first-hand the impact a physical therapist made on my recovery, I knew it was a career path that would excite, fulfill and challenge me. I went on to run for Mean Green Track because I’ve always enjoyed a good challenge. Over the course of my UNT career, I ran distances ranging from the 400 meter dash to 6,000 meter cross country, but the 800 meters was my specialty. Running taught me to overcome obstacles, helped me grow as a person and directly led to my acceptance into physical therapy school. After shadowing multiple physical therapists and volunteering at a hospital, I see physical therapy as a way to encourage others and leave an impact on their lives. I’ve always enjoyed helping others and spent the past 3 years tutoring classes such as exercise physiology, biomechanics, sociology of sport, and anatomy and physiology. I’ve learned so much about myself during college, including how to lead and motivate others through my role as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and 2 years as a track and field team captain. As a leader, I took the underclassmen athletes under my wing and made them feel welcome on the track team. I remember how isolated I felt during my freshman year when I didn’t know anyone. I want to always be a positive, encouraging role model, and I believe I can do that as a physical therapist. Now that track season is over and I’m a UNT alumna, I probably won’t spend countless hours conditioning in the hot sun, but I will stay active. I’m excited to harness my drive and determination into my pursuit of a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the Texas Woman’s University T. Boone Pickens Institute of Health Sciences in Dallas. (Victoria Junious, UNT's College of Education - Kinesiology, Health Promotion, and Recreation)

The UNT squirrels sure are lonely! We can’t wait for the Summer semester to start so our little buddies can have their friends back.

GREAT GRAD: The financial and societal obstacles that come with being first-generation Mexican-American almost kept me from attending college, but it was the Emerald Eagle Scholars Program that kicked open the doors. The scholarship covered my class fees for 4 years allowing me to focus on academia and extra-curricular activities. From working as Director of Publicity for the North Texas-Eco Reps, a sustainability-based organization under UNT Housing, to assisting in the selection and arrival of Bill Nye The Science Guy to the campus, it’s been an incredible ride. I received a 2.0 GPA my first semester due to my over-involvement on campus, but was able to slowly raise it by re-evaluating my priorities. Fast-forward to today – I graduated while maintaining a position as a resident assistant at West Hall, an internship at a creative public relations agency called Culture-Hype, and juggling my final 5 courses. Some of my favorite memories include the times when our student body would unite in defense of social injustices and attempt to create a more inclusive campus. It's not the size of the university that makes it great, it's the quality of its students. UNT will always have a special place in my heart, but I’m ready for the adventures that lie ahead! (Relvyn Lopez, Public Relations – Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism)

Research shows the color green makes us more inventive! So wear your #UNTgreen with pride – and for the boost of creativity that comes with it. Are you wearing green this #MeanGreenFriday? Show us in the comments!

GREAT GRAD: I am the epitome of a non-traditional student – I didn’t discover who I wanted to be when “I grew up” until I was 33. I was working as a business analyst for a bank and they encouraged the employees to volunteer. I ended up at a local non-profit that helps displaced people learn essential life and work skills to get back into the workforce. I understood what these people were going through. I grew up without stability and without someone looking out for me. When I see these people, I see myself. They have jobs, homes and families. My job is to bring them hope. I decided to pursue a dual major in Sociology and Psychology. I chose UNT after visiting the campus and being impressed with its diversity and the acceptance of differences among the students. If you asked me to describe a “typical” UNT student, I wouldn’t be able to. We’re all unique and our diversity is something we celebrate. I’m excited to start my master’s program at UNT in the fall. There is no way I could have come this far without my 3 favorite people – my husband and biggest fan Chris, who works twice as hard so that I can live my dream, and our daughters Lulu and Alice. It has been so much fun for my girls and I to tackle homework together. I want them to always remember learning is a lifelong process and that it’s never too late to be who you want to be. (Terry Juneau, UNT College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences – UNT Sociology and Psychology)