Rice University

Rice University, located on 300 acres of land in the middle of Houston, Texas, is a research university. It was founded by Massachusetts businessman William Marsh Rice in 1891. The university is typically listed as one of the top 20 colleges in the nation. Notable alumni include American investor John Doerr, baseball outfielder Lance Berkman, astronaut Peggy Whitson, business magnate Howard Hughes, author of “Sex and the City” Candace Bushnell and attorney George P. Bush, son of politician Jeb Bush. More than two dozen Marshall Scholars and 12 Rhodes Scholars graduated from Rice University. The official motto is “Letters, Science, Art.” The school colors are grey and blue, and the mascot is Sammy the Owl. The owl was chosen because in Greek mythology, owls of Athena are symbolic of wisdom. The grey and blue colors were selected because the founder, William Marsh Rice, traded with the North, whose color was Oxford blue, and the South, whose color was Confederate grey, during the Civil War. Rice has 14 NCAA Division I sports and competes in Conference USA as well. The varsity athletics include men’s baseball, basketball, football, golf and tennis, and women’s basketball, cross-country, soccer, swimming and track and field. There are many club sports to choose from, like crew, cricket, badminton, men’s and women’s rugby and sailing.

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