The newest TV ads from University of St. Thomas – Houston come thundering through the screen with their exciting message of BOLD transformation for students. From December 2020 through August 2021, on Comcast and all digital TV platforms locally, catch the compelling commercials, which expand on UST’s award-winning half lion/half student campaign.

UST’s Marketing Brand Director Jorge Rodriguez said these two 30-second ads are an opportunity. “This campaign is a success, because it showcases the melting pot of students at a stellar institution of higher education, University of St. Thomas-Houston. It illustrates how this unique exposure will set you up for success wherever life takes you. It’s all about being “Your BOLD Self!”

Rodriguez said the entire production involved filming over 3 days (12 hours per day), 5 days of planning and designing and 7 days of post-production/editing.

Current UST students, not actors, appear within the creative, fast-paced, highly visual TV spots. Viewers see the students’ future selves revealed as dynamic career professionals empowered through a BOLD St. Thomas education.

The hero students performing brilliantly onscreen are Sydney Dunlap B.A ‘21 in Theater Education; Mimi Deleon BSN ’21; Youssef Ahmed B.S. ’21 in Cell and Molecular Biology; and Sebastian Delgado B.A. ’23 in Theology.

Ahmed said he was honored to represent one of the University’s STEM offerings in a professional production. A crew filmed his scenes in an instruction lab within the Center for Science and Health Professions.

“My instructions from the director were to utilize the microscope for observing specimens on slides as if I were ‘investigating the best COVID vaccine cure,’” the future scientist said. “Throughout the process, I took notes and made sketches of my observations on my notepad.”

He said the ad did a fantastic job of showcasing all of the different UST strengths by highlighting business to biology to the theater.

“I especially liked the animation of the Celt at the end of the commercial, which tied everything together seamlessly and symbolized how we’re all parts of the greater whole Celt community,” Ahmed added.

UST is a special place to receive an outstanding education, and its newest ads reflect pride in that distinction.