UTRGV student Chrystian Garcia tosses coins into a mobile water fountain during last semester’s Best Week Ever celebration on the Brownsville campus. UTRGV students, faculty and staff are encouraged to toss coins into the university’s water fountains for good luck in academics. MICHELLE ESPINOZA/RIDER FILE PHOTO
While you make your way to class this week, be sure to check out the Week of Welcome events going on across campus. Whether you’re on the Edinburg or Brownsville campus, there’s something fun in store for you.
To kick off the first week of the spring semester, UTRGV will host a variety of events during the sister week of Best Week Ever–WOW or Week of Welcome.
The activities started with today’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, in which hundreds of students were scheduled to volunteer for a variety of projects throughout the Rio Grande Valley, and will run through Friday.
“It’s the first week of school of the spring semester, so to welcome you guys, welcome students, faculty and staff back to classes, we are doing a week full of celebration, as well as keeping the traditions going,” said Daniela Venegas, student program adviser for the Campus Programming Board.
If you can’t find your class on the first day and you forgot to have breakfast, don’t sweat it, the Campus Activities Board has got you covered with the Breakfast Bonanza. Starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 10 a.m. Tuesday, departments such as the University Library, Career Services and Student Involvement will hand out breakfast snacks and treats and guiding students around the university.
“We have around 15 departments that will participate. It’s a tradition that we are carrying over from UT Brownsville,” Venegas said. “We are giving students a card, we will be having several tables set up around campus and we will be inviting them to go to each department. Each department will provide them with a breakfast snack or breakfast item and then they will receive a stamp. The people that fill out the entire card will be entered into a raffle of 100 V-Bucks.”
The Toss for Luck is an event happening throughout the week. Students can toss a coin in the Main Water Fountain on the Brownsville campus and in the Chapel of the Lord Fountain in Edinburg and wish for good fortune for the semester ahead.
On Tuesday, it’s time for the Throwdown.
“On Tuesday, we will host it at the TSC [Rec Center] in Brownsville and Thursday, here in the Ballroom [in Edinburg],” Venegas said. “We are having games and activities, a DJ, a photo booth, plus all the student organizations and departments.”
Cesar Garcia, a criminal justice junior on the Brownsville campus, said he plans to attend the Campfire Bash.
“I haven’t gone to many school events. Now that I am a junior, and almost done, I feel like I should start,” Garcia said. “I think the events are a good way of getting to know the campus and what it has to offer for students. I’m actually down for the Campfire Bash, really.”
At the Campfire Bash, happening from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday on both campuses, students can enjoy music, free food and activities provided by University Recreation.
“It’s pretty much a big involvement fair to welcome back students but we are also inviting departments and organizations to participate,” Venegas said about the Bash. “We want to create that sense of belonging with the students, and that they feel that they did the right choice coming to UTRGV. So by having these events, by providing these events, it’s just for them to have fun.”
For more information about Week of Welcome and to see the full list of events and activities, visit http://www.utrgv.edu/involvement/student-activities/pride-and-traditions/week-of-welcome/index.htm or call 665-2660 in Edinburg or 882-5111 in Brownsville.
