Last Tuesday and Wednesday, dozens of students participated in the Pumpkin Carving Contest hosted by the Campus Programming Board on the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses.
For the single category, first place went to Hector Alvarez Del Castillo, second place to Bianca Quinones and third place to Johanna De la Cruz. In the team category, first place went to Armando Montemayor, William Abrams and Samantha Reyna, second place to Brandi Rae Rodriguez and third place to Jessica Escamilla and Ivana Chapa. Winners received V Bucks as prizes.
Winners for the Brownsville campus were not available at press time.
“We started it in Edinburg and we saw that students liked it, [so] we brought it to Brownsville,” said Alejandra Cardenas, Campus Programming Board pop culture committee chair. “This is a fun event for you to come and create your own pumpkin.”
The Campus Programming Board started planning the event three weeks in advance. They bought 75 pumpkins for the Brownsville campus and 100 for the Edinburg campus.
“Every year, we buy pumpkins so students can create their own jack-o’-lantern,” Cardenas said. “We will be having more events this semester, next semester, next year. Just look for our logos.”
Contestants decorated their pumpkins to their own liking. Some of them made Halloween-like designs and others carved hearts and happy faces.
“I think it is a really cool experience to just be with your friends and carve pumpkins,” said biology freshman Michelle Arizpe, who competed in the contest.
Anthropology freshman and contestant Beatriz Berlanga said she never carved a pumpkin before this event.
“I thought it’d be cool,” Berlanga said. “Try it out, because if you don’t try it out, we won’t have more events like this.”
The event also featured a Vaquero karaoke contest, where students had the chance to win V Bucks.
“I really love to sing. I am glad I got to be part of this contest,” said history senior Thelma Tijerina. “It was really fun and, hopefully, I get to sing again later on.”
Tijerina said she had a blast at the event because it helps students de-stress and have fun.
“I think the students can enjoy themselves and get out of class,” she said. “I think all these events were really fun. I am really glad I got to be part of one.”
For more information about future events,visit utrgv.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/CPB/.
