Quick Read: SMU and Southern Dallas County

[SMU 86]

I'm sure there are great students at DeSoto and SOC who would be great additions at SMU. We just need to work with the guidance counselors to keep us in mind. Our admissions staff ought to send a some nice attractive folks to talk to some of these counselors about the rigors and benefits of SMU, so that these folks think of us instead of U of D or UNT, etc.

A lady at my church that is a teacher at Lancaster high said that they saw some representatives from SMU there. She said that she had not seen that happen in many years so they might be slowly trying.

[LA_Mustang]

Does anyone seriously think SMU is welcoming to a normal person from DeSoto or Mesquite or 99% of the rest of America? The answer is no and it is a real problem if you care about becoming a team with any fanbase whatsover. I don't know if there is any solution, but it's a problem. We are a bubble within a bubble and filled to the brim with Biffs and Muffys. TCU has some demographic similarities, but they draw their students and therefore alumni much more from locals than we do. Plus they've been wildly successful on the field and Fort Worth doesn't have any other entertainment choices.

USC has similar student body with higher academic standards, but the school is beloved by all in LA.

[LA_Mustang]

A lady at my church that is a teacher at Lancaster high said that they saw some representatives from SMU there. She said that she had not seen that happen in many years so they might be slowly trying.

Visiting Thomas? He tweeted that he's about to make a big announcement.....

[sbsmith]

True. But it's a bit of a chicken and egg thing.

Is it really though? I mean considering our competition we really won't be able to complete a successful community outreach campaign unless we have a "wildly successful" product to market.

[SMU2007]

If we pack ford for the rest of the season, we aren't magically going to be a better program.

If the football team starts winning consistently (on a nationally relevant level), attendance will increase.

I don't think it's a chicken and the egg situation by any stretch of the imagination. You honestly think tcu is successful because they have more fan support?

[SMU 86]

A lady at my church that is a teacher at Lancaster high said that they saw some representatives from SMU there. She said that she had not seen that happen in many years so they might be slowly trying.

Visiting Thomas? He tweeted that he's about to make a big announcement.....

No, this was last school year. They were there talking to students in general not just athletes.

[West Coast Johnny]

I'm sure that SMU has similar programs, but Desoto is one of the schools that TCU has adopted as part of their diversity initiative. TCU has given literally millions of dollars in scholarships to worthy DHS students. Here's a write up of what we've done there if anyone is interested:
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DESOTO—In just the fifth year of participating in the thirteen-year old program, DeSoto High School students are proving their worth to the Texas Christian University’s Community Scholars program.

On April 1, eleven (11) more DeSoto students, the most ever from one school, were named to the Community Scholars program at TCU – earning them a $246,000 scholarship each for a total of $2.7 million! Twenty-four DeSoto students have earned this scholarship over the past four years bringing the total to 35 students!

Congratulations:

•Indigo Dillard

•Julian Escamilla

•Marcus McGarity

•Briana Robison

•Abriana Terrell

•Tyler Traylor

•Derion Woods

•Briget Williams

•Mukamtagara Walker-Williams

•Kenneth White

•Tashell Simon-Hayward

The students and parents were sequestered in the senior suite the morning of April 1 for what most hoped was not an April Fool’s Day prank. As they entered the DHS bistro full of campus staff and counselors along with TCU representatives on hand to present the awards, parents’ and students’ eyes filled with tears at the realization that the perseverance and hard work had paid off!

TCU representatives Timeka Gordon and Victoria Herrera applauded the dedication of the students and parents and praised the campus and district for preparing students for the rigor of college and for the quality of applicants over the years. Of the six recipients in 2010, five are expected to graduate this May and one will complete coursework this fall and graduate in December.

DHS Counselor Clarissa Savoy praised the TCU program for helping students have success at college. "The program isn’t just a scholarship, but also a support group,” said Savoy. "They stay in contact with the students, have social gatherings, provide academic support and do community service projects together. We feel this is one of the best college completion-driven programs for our students and are honored to be part of it.”

"I still have not processed it all,” said recipient Marcus McGarity. "TCU was my first choice; really my only choice. I wasn’t even prepared for a plan B.” Marcus, a state UIL choir performer, is planning to pursue a degree in medical sciences.

After the initial announcement and hugs from family and staff on hand, most families opened the paperwork and signed on the spot. "I don’t need to think about it, it’s what I’ve been dreaming about,” said Briget Williams.

The program started thirteen years ago in four FWISD high schools and has since expanded to DeSoto, Dallas Carter, Dallas Lincoln and Arlington Sam Houston high schools plus three additional FWISD high schools. The program has grown over the past thirteen years and so has DeSoto’s involvement with now 35 students attending TCU though the Community Scholars program, plus several Dean’s Scholarship recipient’s and student-athletes.

TCU’s Director of Intercultural Services Timeka Gordon praised DeSoto High School and the district for their involvement and college ready prepared students. "DeSoto does a phenomenal job preparing students and they are very successful in this program.”

Congratulations to this year’s TCU Community Scholars!

[ponyboy]

USC has similar student body with higher academic standards, but the school is beloved by all in LA.

So what lesson do we draw from that? Is it their history of winning alone? Should we use them as a model? I'm not being sarcastic are cute, seriously how do we become more like USC?

[ponyboy]

True. But it's a bit of a chicken and egg thing.

Is it really though? I mean considering our competition we really won't be able to complete a successful community outreach campaign unless we have a "wildly successful" product to market.

We could bring back the entire pony express teams and still only barely fill Ford. Dallas just does not feel a connection to SMU. Why is that?

[ponyboy]

True. But it's a bit of a chicken and egg thing.

Is it really though? I mean considering our competition we really won't be able to complete a successful community outreach campaign unless we have a "wildly successful" product to market.

We could bring back the entire pony express teams and still only barely fill Ford. Dallas just does not feel a connection to SMU. Why is that?

[sbsmith]

We could bring back the entire pony express teams and still only barely fill Ford. Dallas just does not feel a connection to SMU. Why is that?

Dallas doesn't feel a connection with SMU because they see SMU as a loser. The PE teams won big against relevant competition and our current teams do not. You said it yourself, if we brought back the PE then Ford would be filled.

[ponyboy]

The issue is not filling a 32,000 seat stadium. The issue is gaining the hearts, minds, and loyalty of the greater Dallas area.

[SMU 86]

I'm sure that SMU has similar programs, but Desoto is one of the schools that TCU has adopted as part of their diversity initiative. TCU has given literally millions of dollars in scholarships to worthy DHS students. Here's a write up of what we've done there if anyone is interested:
--------
DESOTO—In just the fifth year of participating in the thirteen-year old program, DeSoto High School students are proving their worth to the Texas Christian University’s Community Scholars program.

On April 1, eleven (11) more DeSoto students, the most ever from one school, were named to the Community Scholars program at TCU – earning them a $246,000 scholarship each for a total of $2.7 million! Twenty-four DeSoto students have earned this scholarship over the past four years bringing the total to 35 students!

Congratulations:

•Indigo Dillard

•Julian Escamilla

•Marcus McGarity

•Briana Robison

•Abriana Terrell

•Tyler Traylor

•Derion Woods

•Briget Williams

•Mukamtagara Walker-Williams

•Kenneth White

•Tashell Simon-Hayward

The students and parents were sequestered in the senior suite the morning of April 1 for what most hoped was not an April Fool’s Day prank. As they entered the DHS bistro full of campus staff and counselors along with TCU representatives on hand to present the awards, parents’ and students’ eyes filled with tears at the realization that the perseverance and hard work had paid off!

TCU representatives Timeka Gordon and Victoria Herrera applauded the dedication of the students and parents and praised the campus and district for preparing students for the rigor of college and for the quality of applicants over the years. Of the six recipients in 2010, five are expected to graduate this May and one will complete coursework this fall and graduate in December.

DHS Counselor Clarissa Savoy praised the TCU program for helping students have success at college. "The program isn’t just a scholarship, but also a support group,” said Savoy. "They stay in contact with the students, have social gatherings, provide academic support and do community service projects together. We feel this is one of the best college completion-driven programs for our students and are honored to be part of it.”

"I still have not processed it all,” said recipient Marcus McGarity. "TCU was my first choice; really my only choice. I wasn’t even prepared for a plan B.” Marcus, a state UIL choir performer, is planning to pursue a degree in medical sciences.

After the initial announcement and hugs from family and staff on hand, most families opened the paperwork and signed on the spot. "I don’t need to think about it, it’s what I’ve been dreaming about,” said Briget Williams.

The program started thirteen years ago in four FWISD high schools and has since expanded to DeSoto, Dallas Carter, Dallas Lincoln and Arlington Sam Houston high schools plus three additional FWISD high schools. The program has grown over the past thirteen years and so has DeSoto’s involvement with now 35 students attending TCU though the Community Scholars program, plus several Dean’s Scholarship recipient’s and student-athletes.

TCU’s Director of Intercultural Services Timeka Gordon praised DeSoto High School and the district for their involvement and college ready prepared students. "DeSoto does a phenomenal job preparing students and they are very successful in this program.”

Congratulations to this year’s TCU Community Scholars!

If SMU does not have a program like this in place they really need to start one.

[sbsmith]

The issue is not filling a 32,000 seat stadium. The issue is gaining the hearts, minds, and loyalty of the greater Dallas area.

Which we would accomplish by being wildly successful. How the hell else do you think we'll beat out Bevo, Aggy, Tech, Baylor and TCU for all those Dallas area hearts and minds?

[ponyinNC]

How the hell else do you think we'll beat out Bevo, Aggy, Tech, Baylor and TCU for all those Dallas area hearts and minds?

democracy, blue jeans and beatles albums...