Texas Instruments Plaza, on the east side of Founders Building, includes green spaces, water fountains and seating areas. “TI Plaza serves as a gathering space on campus, a place to inspire minds to think boldly and dream big — much like our founders did on these very grounds 50 years ago,” said Dr. Kyle Edgington PhD’13, associate vice president for development.
The formal dedication of a newly enhanced outdoor space on campus will publicly recognize the importance of the founders of The University of Texas at Dallas as part of Founders Day activities on Friday.
Students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in the festivities, which will include the dedication of Texas Instruments Plaza, free food, giveaways and entertainment, on the North Mall. There also will be Texas Instruments technology demonstrations that will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Founders Building atrium.
The UT Dallas community is encouraged to participate in a photo saluting the three founders of the University — Cecil H. Green, J. Erik Jonsson and Eugene McDermott. Last year, about 350 participants took part in “the largest Whoosh in world history.”
Before the photo, University President Richard C. Benson and Texas Instruments CEO Richard K. Templeton will dedicate TI Plaza, the area on the east side of Founders Building that includes green spaces, water fountains and seating areas.
“TI Plaza serves as a gathering space on campus, a place to inspire minds to think boldly and dream big — much like our founders did on these very grounds 50 years ago,” said Dr. Kyle Edgington PhD’13, associate vice president for development. “The naming of this beautiful University spot symbolizes the dedication and commitment to education and to the future shared by both the founders and Texas Instruments.”
Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science 30th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture
Who: Richard K. Templeton, CEO, chairman and president of Texas Instruments
What: “Yes, Industry, There is a Future for Semiconductors”
Time: 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Friday
Where: TI Auditorium (ECSS 2.102)
More Info
Founders Day on social media: Follow and contribute on social media using #UTDFounders.
Founders Day, which was first celebrated in 2014, recognizes the day in 1964 when the Founders Building was dedicated at what was then known as the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest. It was the first facility built on the present-day campus, which at the time was bordered by acres of cotton fields and undeveloped land.
The Graduate Research Center of the Southwest was chartered by Green, Jonsson and McDermott, co-founders of Texas Instruments. The three men valued education and entrepreneurial activity, and recognized their company imported talent from outside of Texas, while the state’s bright, young people pursued education elsewhere. In the interest of both their enterprise and their state, the founders established the Graduate Research Center of the Southwest in 1961.
It became the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies in 1967. In 1969, the founders made a gift of the assets of the center to the state of Texas, setting in motion the creation of The University of Texas at Dallas.
TI remains the University’s top corporate partner today. TI also is the top corporate employer of UT Dallas graduates, supports student programs across campus and is represented on multiple advisory councils.
“The TI Plaza is a particularly pleasing example of how both TI and UTD continue to work together to inspire future leaders,” said Dr. Peter Balyta MBA’03, president of TI Education Technology. “I’m personally excited that both organizations still share a common vision to nurture and attract top talent to North Texas, and I’m sure I speak for the more than 900 TIers who are graduates of UTD when I say we are looking forward to what’s next.”