Spring forward at Welcome Week 2025

To start the Spring 2025 semester, Student Activities will host Welcome Week, a series of events giving Vaqueros access to resources about different organizations and opportunities to interact with other students.

Junior Alejandra Rodriguez thinks that Welcome Week is an opportunity for her to make friends and be more social.

 “It’s a little weird coming to campus and doing anything or talking to anyone,” Rodriguez said. “Might as well take advantage while we’re here.”

She said she hopes to gain friends and learn more about campus life.

Cristina Rodriguez, assistant director for Student Activities, said that they pride themselves on giving students the opportunity to connect with each other and explore student resources.

 “Our goal is really to…bring pride and traditions and a sense of belonging to campus and really make the students feel like staying on campus or, you know, having fun before you head home,” Cristina Rodriguez said.

The Student Union will host Vaquero Bingo Night from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Brownsville Student Union Game Room and at the same time Friday at the Edinburg Student Union Game Room. The bingo will require you to bring your student ID to win prizes including college essentials for class. 

Welcome Week will continue with the Welcome Back Bash from noon to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Main Lawn on the Brownsville campus and at the same time in the Quad on the Edinburg campus.

“This is our first time doing a two and a half hour event,”  Cristina Rodriguez said. “We try to have different times during the day… to cater to as many as possible. For the [Welcome Back] Bash, we try to have a variety of options. So, we have the petting zoo, a DIY novelty station, and activities that are on the ground and up in the air, just depending on what attractions we got.”

Throughout the week, both campuses will have information depots sharing details about programs, job opportunities and organizations.

The UTRGV Women’s Basketball team will play against Nicholls State at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus. There will be a watch party available at the Music Science & Learning Center in room 1.115 on the Brownsville campus. The game will also be Academic Recognition Night, where  Student-Athletes who achieved a GPA of at least 3.25 in the fall will be honored at halftime.

Cristina Rodriguez said that Student Activities will try to make more watch parties for athletic games available. “There will be a location on the Brownsville campus so they can go ahead and hang out with fellow students, enjoy some pizza and wings, and just really enjoy that atmosphere for basketball,” she said.

On Saturday, the UTRGV Women’s Basketball team will face off at 2 p.m. and the men’s team at 4:30 p.m. against McNeese State at the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus. The games are part of Back to School night, with free food and merchandise available for UTRGV students.

Sophomore theatre major Isaac Garza looks forward to having events for sports available. 

“I like attending the basketball and baseball games and would love to get more info with all of the games, schedules and events,” Garza said.

Students are encouraged to bring their student IDs with them when participating in these events.