WHY CHOOSE UST? It’s easy to get lost in the crowd at many colleges, to be just a number or to lose your unique style. The University of St. Thomas in Houston is different. Continuing the legacy of the Basilian Fathers and guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we offer a liberal arts education that will prepare you for a lifetime of opportunities. You will learn from a broad range of disciplines, developing critical thinking and leadership skills, cross-cultural knowledge and versatility to enter almost any field.
PERSONAL ATTENTION With class sizes averaging 17 students, we provide the personal attention that helps you complete your degree on time. Professors know you by your name, and they mentor and advise you on a one-on-one basis. Dedicated and caring faculty and staff offer the support and services you need to guide you through your undergraduate degree. We want you to learn and to succeed.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE St. Thomas ranks high among your choices of the best education in the nation: • U.S.News & World Report: “America’s Best Colleges” in the Western region • The Cardinal Newman Society: Named among the top 22 Catholic colleges and universities • The Princeton Review Guide: “Best Western Colleges”
AFFORDABILITY We will show you how to create an affordable plan for you and your family. One of the big differences between private schools like St. Thomas and public universities is the availability of merit scholarships. We award more than $13.7 million in grants and scholarships each year. About 80 percent of undergraduate students receive some type of scholarship or financial aid to help make a private education affordable and accessible.
SUCCESSFUL GRADUATES Our graduates are well prepared to take their place as leaders of faith and character. They sparkle with success: • • • •
73% of our pre-med applicants are accepted to medical school. 80% of our pre-law students who apply to law school gain admission. 90% of our education students accepted a full-time teaching position. 100% of cooperative engineering program students enter programs at Notre Dame, University of Houston and Texas A&M. Our graduates understand that a spiritual foundation, leadership ability and academic excellence shape their future.
CAMPUS LIFE St. Thomas has a family feel. Many students describe it as a “home away from home.” It is just the right size to build and nurture relationships that transform lives. You can map out your path to a campus life experience that meets your needs and interests with more than 60 student organizations and a full slate of social events, Campus Ministry activities and fitness activities. Cheer the Celts to championship titles, or join the action on the court. Our intercollegiate athletics program includes men’s basketball, soccer and golf, and women’s basketball, volleyball and golf.
Snap a photo of this tag with your smartphone to view the UST CAMPUS VIDEO or go to stthom.edu/admissionsvideo. CHARACTER • PASSION • COMMITMENT • EXCELLENCE • DISCIPLINE • HARD WORK • KNOWLEDGE • RESPONSIBILITY • ATTITUDE • POSITIVE COMMUNICATION • LEAD
HEAD WOMEN’S SOCCER COACH – NIKOLA BARJAKTAREVIC Barjaktarevic is not new to building a program from the ground up. He successfully started the women’s soccer program at The University of Texas at Brownsville in 2007, a process that culminated in the team’s advancement to the Elite 8 round of the NAIA National Tournament in 2012, a current national rank of No. 9 by the NAIA and an impressive career record of 79-27-7. While at UTB, his teams won four Red River Athletic Conference Championships and made three NAIA National Tournament appearances. He was also named Red River Athletic Coach of the Year three times as well as NSCAA Regional Coach of the year. Just this spring he was honored with RRAC 2013 Coach of Character Award. Other team accolades include the NAIA Champions of Character Award in 2009 and 2012, and 2013 NAIA Team Academic Award.
WOMEN’S SOCCER PROGRAM TO START FALL 2014 Athletic programs have flourished at the University of St. Thomas. Now, UST continues to grow, adding a new program: women’s soccer. To help build, recruit and lead a championship-caliber team, UST looks to Nikola Barjaktarevic, former head women’s soccer coach at The University of Texas – Brownsville. "When we began the search for our new and first ever women's soccer coach at UST, I never would have imagined we could get someone as proven as Nikola Barjaktarevic. He is a proven winner on the field, and his student-athletes have been successful in the classroom and in their respective communities. Coach Barjaktarevic will be a terrific addition to the University of St. Thomas. I am excited to watch him build our women’s soccer program," Todd Smith said. Barjaktarevic joined The University of St. Thomas on Aug. 5, 2013 and will be at the helm of the women’s soccer program, starting with inaugural season in fall 2014. The addition of women’s soccer highlights the commitment of the University and the athletic department as they work to continue the success, both in Red River Athletic Conference and at the NAIA level.
WHY UST SOCCER? • • • • • • • • •
His coaching philosophy is based around academic excellence, recruitment and retention, player development and building relationships. His approach, seeking student athletes with character and a passion for excellence both in the classroom and in their sport, has proved successful, and he plans to use the same approach as he begins recruiting this fall. In his career Barjaktarevic recruited several players that represented their countries at the national level in soccer, and some of his student-athletes continue to play in WPSL, W-League and professionally abroad. “We want to have a successful program,” Barjaktarevic said. “When I say successful, I mean not only winning on the field, but also in classroom and in life, by doing things the right way. The ultimate goal is to graduate and prepare our studentathletes to be positive contributors and leaders wherever their life might take them. It’s about much more than just soccer, it’s about life, and all the things that are important to us as a program that they will encounter on our incredible journey here, will ultimately prepare them for the rest of their life.” For more information on Coach Barjaktarevic and the women’s soccer program, visit www.ustcelts.com.
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Being a part of an incredible journey, of building traditions, of history in the making. Commitment to excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in life. First class education, player and professional development opportunities. Doing things the right way and with class - how we play, train and act. High expectations, challenging environment, established vision, mission and goals. Winning mentality, belief in team and family. Great location, Houston, TX - fourth largest city in the US. Beautiful urban campus in the heart of Houston’s historic Museum District. Great facilities – soccer teams train and play at Houston Amateur Sports Park (official training facility for Houston Dynamo MLS team) as well as on campus training, strength & conditioning and rehab facilities. Memorable campus and residence life; fantastic dorms and “home away from home” campus feeling. Experienced, driven, and professional coaching and support staff. Preparation for graduation and success beyond, weather it is with your professional career, life skills or soccer after college. Player development, opportunities to play during summer and beyond college in W-League, WPSL and professionally. Resources for success in soccer, classroom and in life. Community and campus involvement and community service, servant leadership. Being a Champion of Character. Well rounded emphasis on student-athlete experience, with primary focus on student first. Being a part of a soccer program that about more than just winning games, playing for a greater purpose.
Through a partnership with the Houston Amateur Sports Park LGC and the City of Houston, the Houston Amateur Sports Park (HASP) is the Dynamo’s permanent training home and hosts a variety of youth and amateur sporting events. HASP is the permanent home and professional training center for the Dynamo first team, Dynamo youth academy, The multi-field soccer facility is located off State Highway 288, approximately 10 miles south of the Dynamo's new downtown stadium site. The University of St. Thomas and the Houston Dynamo have developed a strategic plan to continue to develop HASP and create a premier dedicated match field for both parties.
ERSHIP • DETERMINATION • FAIR PLAY • AGGRESSIVENESS • CONFIDENCE • TEAM WORK • COURAGE • LOYALTY • COMPETITIVENESS • FAMILY • WINNING MENTALITY
CELT FACTS
UST MISSION STATEMENT
• The word Celts, pronounced Kelts, refers to people of several ethnic groups in Ireland and Britain. • Converted by St. Patrick, the Celts were loyal to the Church’s Christian teachings. • Highly skilled in the visual arts, they produced intricate metalwork. • “True Celts” were regarded as a military aristocracy defined by qualities of chilvary, courage and bravery. • At the same time, they also prided themselves on their appreciation of music, poetry and philosophy.
We foster engagement in a diverse, collaborative community. As a comprehensive university grounded in the liberal arts, we educate students to think critically, communicate effectively, succeed professionally, and lead ethically.
UST VISION STATEMENT
GENERAL FACTS Name: Location: Founded: Enrollment: Mascot: Colors: Home arena: President: Athletic Director: Sports Information Director: Senior Woman Administrator:
We are the University of St. Thomas, the Catholic university in the heart of Houston. We are committed to the Catholic intellectual tradition and the dialogue between faith and reason. By pursuing excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service, we embody and instill in our students the core values of our founders, the Basilian Fathers: goodness, discipline, and knowledge.
University of St. Thomas Houston, TX 1947 3,711 Celts Scarlet & Gold Jerabeck Athletic Center Dr. Robert Ivany Todd Smith Kallie Noble Jessica Domann
We have decided that within 15 years we will become one of the great Catholic universities in America.
WOMEN’S SOCCER VISION STATEMENT We will become one of the finest women’s soccer programs in the nation/NAIA within the next 10 years.
WOMEN’S SOCCER FACTS National Affiliation: Conference: Head Coach: E-mail: Mens’ Basketball Office: Overall Coaching Record: Inaugural Season:
NAIA Division I Red River Nikola Barjaktarevic barjakn@stthom.edu 713-942-3490 94-61-11 Fall 2014
www.ustcelts.com IN THE HEART OF HOUSTON The University of St. Thomas campus is located in the heart of Houston’s historic Museum District. We invite you to attend our Celt Preview Days and other visitation programs that will give you the chance to meet with students, faculty and staff, tour the campus, attend mock classes, and even spend the night in our dorm. Find out more at stthom.edu/admissions/RSVP.