Rice honors Brown, Julia, Martinez, Moore, Quintanilla and Walker with 2025 Staff Excellence Award
Rice University recognized six outstanding staff members with the 2025 Staff Excellence Award during the annual staff appreciation event April 23, celebrating their extraordinary dedication and service to the university community.
‘Kindness matters’: Victoria Langlais wins Elizabeth Gillis Award
Victoria Langlais, senior assistant dean of human resources and administration in Rice’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing, was named this year’s winner of the Elizabeth Gillis Award for Exemplary Service at President Reginald DesRoches’ annual event celebrating staff accomplishments April 23.
‘Determined to find a solution’: Rice students create wellness app
A team of students from Rice is developing a mobile app to “make happiness a daily habit.” Named Sprout Wellness, the technology’s goal is to provide users with positive psychology-based activity plans to foster social connection, improve well-being and decrease depressive symptoms. It is available for download from the Apple App Store and will soon be available on GooglePlay.
Ross Rankin Moody Opportunity Fund bolsters Rice student opportunities
The Ross Rankin Moody Opportunity Fund distributed $9,500 among 13 students to support their travel opportunities. Most of the funds were allocated to Rice in Country programs, while others were used for internships, research programs or international competitions.
Future Owls flock to Rice for Owl Days
Rice welcomed admitted students and their families to campus for Owl Days April 11 and for Owl Days Express April 13. The program is an opportunity for new students to explore the campus and its surrounding area. The Class of 2029 connected with fellow Owls, learned more about what the next four years may look like and experienced Rice’s community, academics and culture of care.
Faculty recognized with George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching
Nine Rice faculty members received the 2025 George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching, which honors Rice’s top instructors based on votes from alumni who graduated within the past two, three and five years.
Wiess Tabletop Theatre to present ‘Company’ April 17-19
Rice’s Wiess Tabletop Theatre will present “Company” at 8 p.m. April 17-19 in the Wiess Commons. The show is free to Rice students, and others can attend for a $5 general admission fee.
Rain doesn’t dampen KTRU’s annual Outdoor Show as bands heat up inside Grand Hall
Rice’s radio station, KTRU, recently hosted its 33rd annual Outdoor Show. The show is a free, all-day music festival traditionally held in the Central Quad, although inclement weather forced the program to move inside the Grand Hall at Rice Memorial Center.
Rice to celebrate staff achievements April 23
Rice will host its annual appreciation event to celebrate staff accomplishments at 9 a.m. April 23 at Tudor Fieldhouse. The gathering will include remarks by President Reginald DesRoches, acknowledgment of service anniversaries from five to 50 years in five-year increments and special recognition of notable employees.
‘A more caring and connected campus’: Rice celebrates Pride Week April 7-12
Rice University is celebrating joy, friendship and fellowship as part of its annual Pride Week. An array of events are planned throughout this week designed to spark connection and engagement in meaningful dialogue in a space where all identities are welcome.
Hundreds attend RiceFest to learn about employee benefits options, other campus services
Hundreds of university employees gathered at the Rice Memorial Center’s Grand Hall April 3 for RiceFest, the annual event designed to help staff explore health care and other benefits.
