Best Week Ever is a UTRGV celebration that welcomes students back for their first week of school at the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses.
“So, this year, we changed the theme to a Western theme to kind of fit the unveiling of the mascot and just kind of back our drive of this Vaquero culture,” said Lauren Contreras, assistant director of Student Activities.
Best Week Ever is set to have a variety of events and festivities to welcome students today through Thursday.
“I think it’s important to have it at both campuses to show our students that we’re giving them equal opportunities for our events,” Contreras said. “We make it a priority to do it at each campus.”
The event will offer several free items.
“They can expect lots of free food, lots of free opportunities to get T-shirts [and] other promotional items,” she said. “They can expect to connect with different campus resources. A lot of our campus partners will be adopting Info Depots as well as being present at The Stomp, so they can learn more about the university in general through these events.”
Info Depots will be available throughout both campuses for students to ask questions regarding their class location, directions or other information. Depots will run from 8 to 10 a.m. today and Tuesday. Snacks will also be available at these locations.
The Office of Global Engagement and their partners will host their annual International Meet & Greet parade of flags from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday from Main to the Student Union lawn Brownsville campus. On the Edinburg campus, the event will take place at the same time Thursday. The parade starts at the Performing Arts Complex and ends at the Ballroom.
This event will have students and staff representing different countries of international students at the university.
Picnic with the President will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón in Brownsville. On the Edinburg campus, the event will take place at the same time Thursday at the Ballroom. Free hot dogs and hamburgers will be served with all the trimmings.
“I think it’s really important that he’s engaged with the students on campus, since he is the president and it’s a great opportunity … for students to meet him and talk to him and get to know him a little bit more,” Andy Gutierrez, a mass communication senior, said of UTRGV President Guy Bailey.
A Résumé Workshop is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Executive Tower Lobby on the Edinburg campus. At the workshop, students can have their résumé reviewed by the Career Center staff. Hot dogs will be available while supplies last.
UTRGV Day is a celebration to honor the founding of the university. In Edinburg, the event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Ballroom. In Brownsville, the event will take place at 2 p.m. the same day in the PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón. Free cupcakes, snacks and T-shirts will be given away. Students must provide a valid ID.
Also on Wednesday, guest speaker Justin Velten will present a cultural awareness lecture. Velten is a professor, researcher and president of Go Culture International. During his speech, he will define culture awareness and provide tips on how to acquire its principles.
“His speech will be taking us through what it means to be a diverse campus and inclusive of all the students that we have here,” Contreras said.
The lecture will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Ballroom in Edinburg.
The main event for Best Week Ever is The Stomp. The Stomp will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Student Union lawn on the Brownsville campus. In Edinburg, the event will be held at the same time Thursday at the HPE2 Track & Soccer Field. Several departments and organizations will be present at the event.
