Cauldron

Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: Courtesy of Archives Students, staff and visitors enjoy the Turtle Race, a featured event on Visitors' Day, April 1953.

Today's UST students who want to learn about UST can do so by attending Celt Preview Day or visiting overnight. Although the University has always had a type of visitor's day program, it is one of the many traditions that has evolved throughout the years.

The first visitor's day was held on April 19, 1952 as a way to recruit high school students to the small university. Invitations were sent to mostly Catholic high schools from around Houston, and to Beaumont, Dallas and as far as Louisiana. About 100 seniors attended the weekend activities.

According to Betty Fisher, class of 1952, who now works in UST Archives, the social began with a debate tournament with topics related to the time period. Because the event was held during spring, the weather was picnic-perfect. The students were treated to a luncheon outside Link-Lee Mansion. Ladies in long skirts and sun hats and gentlemen in button-up shirts sat under umbrellas sipping fresh-squeezed lemonade.

However, Fischer said the most memorable part of Visitor's Day was the turtle races.

"Everyone got their own turtles from ditches and such," she said.

Each student was given a turtle, which was put in a wooden box in the middle of a large circle on the mansion lawn. At the announcer's call of "Ready, Set, Go!" the box was lifted, and the first turtle to reach the edge of the circle became the winner. Its UST student owner and his or her visiting high-school student partner gained bragging rights. Fischer said cheering might have helped. Whistling and tapping were also alternatives, but mainly it was a positive attitude and luck that made the turtle win.

After the turtle races, the students celebrated with a Saturday-night dance.

Today, UST offers Celt Preview Day, Celt Overnight visit and UST Open House. There's no turtle race, but at Celt Preview Day students and their parents are given an opportunity to meet with faculty, tour the campus and attend sessions that help with admissions and financial aid. At the UST Open House, the same opportunities as Celt Preview Day are provided, with additional sessions on campus life and receiving first-hand testimonials from students who live and study at UST.

"Even though there was a big crowd, the UST faculty answered individual questions thoroughly and provided one-on-one assistance," Cristina Cisneros, parent of a UST student said. "The food and the environment were very relaxing and enjoyable."

The Open House is held in conjunction with the Research Symposum, so visitors can hear presentations by students on their individual research and learn about clubs and organizations. For lunch, the visitors are invited to enjoy a barbecue, followed by live music.

"I didn't know too much about the University, but after attending the UST Open House, I realized how many opportunities UST offers for education and personal growth," freshman Stephanie Benavides said. "The food was a big plus."

Paul Barnes contributed reporting to this story.

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