Vol. 9 [UTAKA News] June First Thursday Gathering

• On the evening of Thursday, June 4, this month’s First Thursday gathering was hosted by WooJin "Jake" Chang (ECON ’08) and Seungwon "Daniel" Suh (ECON ’19).
• The event was held in a reserved group seating area on the second floor of Guinness Hannam 72, providing a cozy and comfortable setting for alumni to connect. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of WooJin "Jake" Chang (ECON ’08), attendees also enjoyed herbal whole chicken from a local's favorite, adding a memorable culinary touch to the evening.
• A total of 14 alumni attended. The gathering was made especially meaningful by its diverse mix of participants. Among those present were three Special Members, including Chan H. Lee (UTIMCO), Managing Partner of Petra Capital Management, as well as an alumnus currently pursuing a doctoral degree at UT Butler School of Music. Also joining First Thursday for the first time was the co-founder of the AI startup Vessel AI.

• The event began at 7:30 p.m. and continued until midnight, with attendees commenting on how quickly the time passed in such a warm and enjoyable atmosphere.
• The evening opened with introductions, giving everyone an opportunity to get to know one another.
• Conversations flowed naturally throughout the night. One particularly engaging topic was the changing dating culture among younger generations. Participants exchanged observations that while older generations often expected men to take the lead in initiating relationships and expressing romantic interest, many younger heterosexual couples today appear to have more women taking a proactive role, while men are often less assertive than in the past.

• First Thursday gatherings are held every month. We invite you to join this alumni tradition of spending the first Thursday evening of each month with fellow Longhorns and take the opportunity to become more involved in the alumni community in a familiar and welcoming setting. 😄

(Source: This article was based on information provided by WooJin "Jake" Chang (ECON ’08), host of the gathering.)