Texas Academy at LU offers unique opportunity for high school standouts

Lamar University is rocketing students toward success with a unique program that allows academically excellent high schoolers to earn college credits, giving them a jumpstart on their futures and propelling them forward on their academic journeys.

The Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities (TALH) program offers outstanding teens the opportunity to earn college credits while completing their high school curriculum there, and even gives them the chance to live on campus, providing incomparable life experience and a sense of independence inspiring confidence as they move along their career paths.

Dr. Tilisa Thibodeaux is dean of TALH and dean of the Reaud Honors College. An award-winning educator, celebrated professor and distinguished researcher, Thibodeaux knows how to help her high-achieving charges accomplish their admirable academic goals and places student success at the forefront of the program.

“The Reaud Honors College and the Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities students are passionate and persistent. I have been uniquely inspired by their intrinsic capacity to learn and impact the world around them,” she said. “As dean, I will connect and build a relationship with every student. I will motivate every student to turn challenges into opportunity. I will bolster and promote undergraduate student research, rigorous academic learning experiences and support service leadership on our campus and in our community. We will take advantage of the opportunity to work cohesively as a college and academy to construct meaningful relationships on and off campus, collaborate with our community and industry partners, establish solid alumni networks, and help each student graduate and reach their fullest potential.”

TALH standout and Reaud Legends Scholarship recipient Adeline Tran wholeheartedly agrees, she said. As a high school sophomore, Tran was in the top 2% among her peers and tied academically for first in her class of 363 students at Port Neches-Groves High School (PN-G). While she loved her classmates, Tran shared, she found herself getting bored with everything else.

“I had been going to school in Port Neches-Groves since kindergarten, all the way to my sophomore year in high school,” said Tran. “To be honest, I actually loved it. I have so many great friends there. It was fantastic, but I realized that after my first two years in high school, it was kind of repetitive.

“There were challenging courses. I was in clubs. I was involved with General Mathematics UIL, Science UIL, Calculator Applications UIL, Key Club, band – all that kind of stuff, but I realized I was going to be in these clubs for the next two years. I just wanted something a bit more exciting, something a little bit more challenging other than the normal high school experience. That’s why I joined the Texas Academy, to get that other experience.”

Tran and other gifted students with similarly excellent grades on their high school transcripts are invited to apply for the TALH program. They must submit a written essay and two letters of recommendation from an administrator or counselor and a teacher. Each student is personally interviewed by TALH leadership, and the student’s SAT or ACT scores also factor in acceptance to the program.

When Tran was approached about TALH, she “was being polite” by taking a brochure, but once she read the information inside the handout, it immediately piqued her interest. Her mother, said Tran, was even more interested and started researching the program and the possibilities it could open up for her daughter.

“I showed my mom. Then, she started looking more into it, and it was just a really good program,” Tran recalled. “I decided to take a leap of faith and join the Texas Academy.”

It was just the challenge Tran had been seeking. Though the prospect of heading to college at such a young age was initially somewhat daunting, she described, she soon found herself excelling academically and enjoying a rich social environment.

“Of course, I was scared that I wasn’t going to do well here because it’s a real university, taking real college courses. At first it was overwhelming, but I got the hang of it really soon,” said Tran. “I soon learned how to study for different courses, how to interact with professors, and I think that’s a really good thing: becoming prepared instead of going into college right after high school, just having that extra two years to help prepare you for college.

“I’m just so glad I joined the Academy, I think is one of the best things that I’ve done.”

Nederland High School star student Kristin Hebert said she, too, was a little nervous about taking college courses when she first joined TALH.

“I have really enjoyed TALH. I was really nervous coming in at first because I went from my sophomore year of high school to taking freshman level college classes,” said Hebert. “So, it was very nerve-wracking at first, but I feel like I adjusted really well to the class schedule. I’ve made a ton of friends in TALH and on the Lamar campus, and I’ve had just a great two years during my time in TALH.

“I’ve made great relationships with all the admin here and some of the Lamar professors that I get to keep working with over the next two years. I am so glad that I made the decision to come because I’ve made so many friends.”

Hebert was a twirler at her old high school, and she has been able to continue pursuing that activity during at her time at LU, performing during events while donned in glittering costumes featuring brilliant Cardinal Red, analogous to the university’s mascot, Big Red. She has also taken on leadership roles and helped plan TALH’s recent prom at the end of the 2022 Spring semester.

“Probably my most memorable experience has been being the social coordinator, because with that I get to plan different activities and events for all the students, just to make sure we’re all staying connected with each other, and we’re all just having fun making friends,” she explained. “So that way, it’s not just school all the time. It’s giving people activities and things to do, so I really enjoyed being able to do that this year.”

Hebert said the program has given her a “head start” on college, and helped her decide between staying in Southeast Texas or leaving to go to Texas A&M. Both Hebert and Tran will be continuing their educations at LU with enough credits to start as juniors in college, and both have received full scholarships through their participation in TALH and the Reaud Honors College.

Hebert, who plans to study medicine, said she was thrilled when she heard news that she had received the Presidential Scholarship.

“The scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships at Lamar,” Hebert described. “It’s a full ride, so it’s going to cover my tuition, my books, my room and board for up to four years. I actually wouldn’t have been able to apply for it if it wasn’t for the help of TALH and Dr. Thibodeaux. I worked with Dr. Thibodeaux, and she helped me get with a few different people. With her help, I was able to get the scholarship.”

As a Presidential Scholar, Hebert will also be automatically admitted into LU’s Reaud Honors College.

Tran, a biochemistry major, received the Reaud Legends Scholarship and admittance into the Honors College, as well.

“I got the call from the scholarship office, and I was in shock – total shock,” said Tran of finding out she won the generous scholarship. “I was so, so happy. It was unbelievable! I’m so honored.”

According to Dr. Thibodeaux, TALH starts recruiting students at age 15-16, around their sophomore year of high school, though freshmen and juniors can also apply. The program is free upon acceptance and students can finish high school at TALH on the LU campus. They will take secondary courses as well as college honors courses, and can earn enough credits to graduate with a bachelor’s degree about two years early. They can reside on or off campus. Students who have completed 11th grade may also apply for TALH’s one-year program for high school seniors.

Thibodeaux fully endorses the academy she leads, she told The Examiner, and encourages qualifying students to take advantage of the unparalleled benefits it offers.

“The Academy is a gem of an opportunity for high-achieving students, and Lamar University is an outstanding home for this program for students who desire rigorous academics, research and scholarship opportunities, and service leadership,” said Thibodeaux.

Applications are currently being accepted for the Fall 2022 semester. Apply or learn more about TALH online at https://www.lamar.edu/texas-academy-of-leadership-in-the-humanities/index.html, or call (409) 880-7011 for additional information.