UTRGV students at last year’s Toss for Luck event on the Brownsville campus./Michelle Espinoza/The Rider File photo
Between classes this week, UTRGV students can hang out with the president, meet some international students and toss a coin in a fountain for good luck.
To commemorate the first week of school, UTRGV will host a series of events and activities called Best Week Ever today through Friday on the Brownsville and Edinburg campuses.
“To sum it up, it would be to connect students with the resources available on campus as well as in the community to ensure that they have a successful academic year with UTRGV,” said Abraham Villarreal, UTRGV Student Involvement student program adviser.
If you don’t know where your class is, today and Tuesday, volunteers at info depots throughout the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses will guide you from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
“We are expecting to welcome around 10,000 to 12,000 students … at the events throughout the week,” Villarreal said.
“It’s a great way to meet people and communicate with others and get around to know the campus with other people,” said Vanessa Mora, a mass communication major on the Edinburg campus who attended last year’s Best Week Ever events.
One of this week’s activities is the Toss for Luck, where students can toss a coin in the Main Water Fountain on the Brownsville campus and in the Chapel of the Lord Fountain in Edinburg to wish for good fortune in the new school year.
At the Picnic with the President, students will be able to meet UTRGV President Guy Bailey and his administration team from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Tuesday on the Student Union lawn in Brownsville and at the same time Thursday on the Quad in Edinburg. Free food will be served and there will music and games.
“Dr. Bailey has expressed great interest in wanting to connect with the students at the event,” Villarreal said.
The Stomp is the signature event, where university departments, student organizations, academic programs, local merchants and community service agencies welcome students in a fun environment offering many involvement opportunities to students. It is scheduled from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on the Student Union lawn in Brownsville and at the same time Thursday on the Quad/HEP 1 parking in Edinburg.
The UTRGV Office of Global Engagement will host its first International Meet and Greet from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in the University Center Circle in Edinburg and at the same time Thursday in the Main Courtyard in Brownsville. International and domestic students are invited to join the activities, which include a Parade of Flags, games and prize giveaways.
Veterans and their dependents are invited to a barbecue hosted by the Military and Service Success Center from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday on the Student Union lawn in Brownsville and Friday in the University Center in Edinburg.
“It is our intention to have [veterans] join us and spend some time getting to know our staff, our work-studies and community’s resources,” said Martin Rodriguez, director of the Military and Veterans Success Center.
The series of events will conclude Friday with the UTRGV Men’s Soccer Team’s “Orange Out” game, featuring the Vaqueros vs. the Presbyterian College Blue Hose. The match will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. in the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex in Edinburg.
For more information about Best Week Ever, visit http://www.utrgv.edu/en-us/about-utrgv/news/press-releases/best-week-ever-events/ or call 665-2660 in Edinburg or 882-5111 in Brownsville.
