The HSU Office of Enrollment Services and Department of Alumni Relations’ advance screening of the new Harry Potter movie, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” was a resounding success. HSU hosted the exclusive viewing both at the Abilene Century 12 and at the Dallas Cinemark IMAX theaters on July 10th. Prospective students, their families, and HSU alumni were invited to the free viewing as an entertaining way to give prospective students to meet alumni and get a taste of the HSU experience.

The line formed early for the advance showing

One prospective student sent this note the following day: “I'm writing to let you know how much I enjoyed the Harry Potter event! I had an excellent time. It was such a treat to see the movie with such a great group of people. We enjoyed getting to know several HSU alumni. Thank you for planning such a special, special experience. The event was such a positive reflection on HSU, a university I had previously known very little about.”

Another new high school graduate, already enrolled at HSU for the fall, talked about how wonderful it was that the movie was held as an event for the HSU family. Her parents and siblings read each Harry Potter book out loud, with character voices and expressions, as a family activity, and she was thrilled to find the element of family in the university she will attend.

What's a good movie without popcorn?

Over 500 members of the HSU extended family were able to enjoy a good moral tale, and the requisite popcorn and candy, with almost as many on a waiting list to get in. The event was by invitation only, and some of those on the waiting lists were able to get tickets. They were pretty easy to spot – they were the ones who held their tickets in the air like trophies; as though they’d just won the lottery.

HSU will probably have another similar event, so don't be left standing outside.

One alumnus summed it up nicely, “I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for a wonderful evening with Harry Potter in Dallas last night. My family and I had a wonderful time and enjoyed the film. While in line, we were able to visit with a May 2007 graduate, a possible new student and her family, and a yound lady and her family from the class of 2000. It was great to meet these folks, and because of HSU, it was like we had already known them for a while.