Homecoming, UTRGV’s first signature spring event, is underway this week, bringing pride to the Vaquero community and fun activities, such as parades, a 5K run, the burning of the letters and more.
The events are open to students, alumni, faculty and staff to continue traditions, honor the university’s legacy and highlight its values.
Homecoming begins Tuesday and ends Saturday.
Student Activities Assistant Director Cristina Rodriguez spoke about maintaining traditions.
“We want to continue these traditions because we want to celebrate the legacy, not just of our former institutions, but of UTRGV in the continued years further,” Rodriguez told The Rider last Wednesday. “We definitely would like our students to experience it as a student, and as an alumni and, hopefully, as a parent down the road and so it kind of evolves over time. We just want to continue building on the values of the Vaquero Nation.”
Student organizations will start by putting their art and creativity to test with a Window Painting Contest. The competition began last Friday and ends at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the student unions on both campuses.
Students can connect with organizations and other Vaqueros during Involvement Fairs, scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Main Courtyard on the Brownsville campus and at the same time Wednesday on the Chapel Lawn on the Edinburg campus.
To demonstrate the university’s pride and spirit, Homecoming is bringing two parades to the community. The first will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday on the Student Union Lawn in Brownsville.
Transportation assistance is available for students who would like to travel to another campus for the events.
For both campuses, the Vaquero Express operates from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., with the exception of Friday having its last departure at 8:10 p.m. The buses take one hour and 30 minutes to arrive at their respective campus and students are advised to arrive 15 minutes before departure time. For more information on the Vaquero Express schedule, please visit: utrgv.edu/parking-and-transportation-services/transportation-services/vaquero-express/.
On the Edinburg campus, Rodriguez said students will have access to spirit stations and activities before the parade at 4 p.m. Thursday on the Chapel Lawn. The parade will start at 5:30 p.m. and work its way to the Fieldhouse.
This is the second year that UTRGV includes parades as part of the celebration.
“That’s been something of a new tradition within Homecoming Week that our departments are wanting to put on,” Rodriguez said. “But I would say every year, with our campus partners growing and jumping in this, I think it just continues to expand and have more engagement opportunities for our students.”
She said students will have access to orange hair spray paint, tattoos, cheerleader pom-poms, materials for making posters and photo opportunities. Golf carts, wagons and bicycles are allowed in the parades.
The UTRGV letters will be lit at 8:45 p.m. Thursday after the Men’s Basketball Team competes against the University of Texas at Arlington.
Rodriguez said the burning of the letters is subject to be rescheduled based on Thursday’s weather.
She said that free T-shirts are expected to be distributed on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Other events include the DYE Hard Orange 5K at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Harlingen Collegiate High School, followed by the presentation of the Homecoming Royal Court during the women’s basketball game against Abilene Christian University, scheduled at 4 p.m. in the UTRGV Fieldhouse. The men’s team will compete against Stephen F. Austin State University at 6:30 p.m.
Randi Flores, an English senior and student assistant for the Athletics department, encourages students to be part of Homecoming.
“There’s only going to be, like, a certain point in your life where you, like, attend college,” Flores said. “I think it’s worthwhile to come.”
Accounting sophomore Ayisha Castillo has not heard about Homecoming but said that she has attended another of the university’s staple events, UTRGV Madness.
“It’s, like, honestly super enjoyable,” Castillo said about Madness. “The activities that they do, the energy, all the, like, student athletes, the dances; it’s just a good, like, vibe in there.”
