Gone to Texas 2025
New Student Video Contest

As the newest Longhorns, you'll bring fresh energy and opportunities to campus during your time at The University of Texas at Austin. We invite you to share your perspective on the journey ahead through the Gone to Texas Student Video Contest.

Please use the following question to create your video:
What does becoming a Longhorn mean to you?

The top three finalist videos will be shown during Gone to Texas on Sunday, August 24, and the winner will be announced during the program. 

First place receives a $500 cash prize; second place receives at $350 cash prize; third place receives a $250 cash prize. 

Let your creativity shine through. We can't wait to meet you!

Video Guidelines

1. Create a video using the following script: "My name is _________ [OPTIONAL: and my hometown is __________]. To me, becoming a Longhorn means …”

2. To be entered, video entries must:

  • Contain the required script (above).
  • Be original and created by an incoming student(s). Videos made by more than one incoming student, or a group of up to 4 incoming students, will be allowed to enter for consideration. All participants must be new, incoming students.
  • Not contain copyrighted content (audio, video, or still photography that the student does not own or that is not available in the public domain. Footage owned by The University of Texas at Austin is not permitted).
  • Be no more than 60 seconds in length.
  • Be saved in a H.264, .mov, .avi, 3GPP / 3GPP2 or .flv format.


Audio Requirements: Please pay close attention to the quality and levels of any audio tracks in the file. Please keep all music and dialogue at levels that are acceptable for playback and that maximize intelligibility.

Judging: Submissions will be judged based on their creativity, message, quality, uniqueness and entertainment value.

Submission Deadline: Due on or before Friday, August 15, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CDT

How to Submit:

If you have questions, please email University Events & Experience universityevents@austin.utexas.edu.