Starting today, students can vote for the new Homecoming Royals while enjoying this week’s celebration, which will feature the mascot for the first time and bring back an old tradition.
“I really want students to come out,” Student Activities Director Cindy Mata-Vasquez said. “Whether you live in Los Fresnos, Brownsville, Rio Hondo, Mercedes, wherever you live, definitely come out, support the Vaqueros, be proud of the university that you’re attending and just show your pride.”
Asked what is new this year, Mata-Vasquez replied the addition of the mascot at different events is something students can expect.
Today, the Tip-off Party will take place from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on the Brownsville library lawn and from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the Edinburg Quad.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Campus Activities Board along with the Student Union will host UTRGV Groove where student can create tie-dye shirts. At noon Tuesday, the event will take place on the Student Union Patio on the Edinburg campus and at the same time Wednesday on the Brownsville library lawn.
Also taking place Wednesday is the Wrapping of the Letters, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. behind the police station on the Edinburg campus.
“All day, students from fraternity and sorority life and different organizations, as well as housing and I believe students from the University Recreation, will be helping wrap the letters,” Mata-Vasquez said. “And so, if anyone wants to go and volunteer or help out, they can definitely call our office to let us know that they want to help out and be part of this tradition.”
Vivian Lopez, a biology sophomore from the Edinburg campus said she is interested in attending and wants to be more involved in campus activities.
“It sounds fun,” Lopez said. “I didn’t even know about it but now that you told us I am more interested in attending.”
Other students such as Julissa Mejia, a civil engineering junior from the Brownsville campus, said she hadn’t heard about Homecoming but thinks it’s good for the school.
“I don’t really pay attention to it … but, like, I’m happy for everybody else about it,” Mejia said.
The Student Activities director said Housing and Residence Life will host a golf cart parade for the first time since 2015 at 6 p.m. Thursday. The parade will start at the Unity Residence Hall and end at the Fieldhouse, where the Battle of the Colleges will take place during the Vaqueros basketball game at 7 p.m.
After the game, the traditional Burning of the Letters will take place at the Edinburg Health and Physical Education 1 Complex parking lot. Free food and music will be provided.
“This year, I think it’ll be nice to see all the residents and anyone who wants to jump in that parade at 6 p.m. walk over to the Fieldhouse and go all across campus, watch the game, cheer on our dean of students or your college dean and then end it with the lighting of the letters right after,” Mata-Vasquez said.
At Friday night’s baseball game, campus community members can attend a Homecoming Alumni Mixer at 7 p.m. at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
Saturday wraps up this week’s festivities with a tailgate and cook-off from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Fieldhouse parking lot. Live music, games and face painting will be available for attendees.
“We really want it to be a place where you can come with your friends, family, your friends that have graduated,” Mata-Vasquez said. “We want alumni to come back and then from there we go to the game, we celebrate the UTRGV royals and we get to see who’s been selected by the student body.”
The celebration will conclude with the Vaqueros taking on Seattle University in their homecoming game.
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