UTRGV’s Student Activities hosted Homecoming Week 2020. Students and staff enjoyed inflatables, free snacks, photo booths and music. This event took place last week on the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses.
The week began with the Tip-Off Party on Feb. 10. Students ate free mangonadas and pizza, played volleyball, bounced in inflatables and took pictures with their friends in the photo booth on the University Library lawn in Brownsville and on the Quad in Edinburg.
Ana Muñoz, an international business junior, said she enjoys attending the events because she can meet people and make new friends.
“I really like to participate in these events,” Muñoz said. “I really like it, like, the UTRGV students can come together and get to know each other and enjoy their university life.”
Last Tuesday, the Co-Ed Flag Football game took place on the University Library lawn on the Brownsville campus. The same day, the UTRGV Groove happened on the Student Union Patio in Edinburg.
The UTRGV Groove consisted of students creating their own personalized T-shirts. Students Activities provided a free white shirt. Students had to first wrap the shirt with a rubber band and put it in water. When the shirt was wet enough, students placed it on the tables and finally painted them with tie-dye paint.
Marissa Rodriguez, a management junior, participated in the event. Rodriguez said she encourages students to come to Homecoming Week events and show support for UTRGV’s basketball team.
“I like it, it’s very organized and friendly,” she said. “I think it’s nice that they are trying to involve the students, and the organizations are trying to get more people out there. It’s just a nice way to bring people together.”
Last Wednesday, the UTRGV Groove took place on the University Library lawn on the Brownsville campus. Meanwhile, the Wrapping of the Letters happened behind the UTRGV police station.
The annual tradition consisted of students and staff wrapping each of the letters that spell out UTRGV.
The Homecoming Golf Cart Parade got underway Thursday night in Edinburg, with a glow-in-the-dark theme. The procession made its way from the Unity Residence Hall and finished at the Fieldhouse.
During halftime of the UTRGV men’s basketball game against Utah Valley University, the deans of the colleges, the dean of students and students showed off their free-throw skills in the Battle of the Colleges.
Grewal Parwinder, executive vice president for Research, Graduate Studies and New Program Development, represented the Graduate College and took the win by scoring 10 free throws with the help of Martin Jalomo, a curriculum and instruction doctoral student.
After the game, members of the university community gathered at the Fieldhouse parking lot for the traditional Burning of the Letters.
Last Friday, the UTRGV Baseball Team opened its season at home against Kansas State University. Results were unavailable at press time.
Homecoming Week ended Saturday with a Tailgate and Cook-Off in the Fieldhouse parking lot. The event was followed by the Vaqueros’ basketball game against Seattle University. Results were unavailable at press time.
“We have a lot of students who are coming out and showing their school spirit,” said Lauren Contreras, assistant director of Student Activities. “It helps the school spirit all around when students show up to events. So, if students come out, then it’ll be that much better.”
International business junior Ana Muñoz prepares to shoot a basketball during the Tip Off Party Feb. 10 on the Edinburg campus. The event was one of the few activities that took place on both campuses during Homecoming Week. FERNANDO RAMIREZ/THE RIDER
