UTRGV PRIDE

UTRGV’s Student Activities hosted Homecoming Week 2020. Students and staff enjoyed inflatables, free snacks, photo booths and music. This event took place last week on the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses.

The week began with the Tip-Off Party on Feb. 10. Students ate free mangonadas and pizza, played volleyball, bounced in inflatables and took pictures with their friends in the photo booth on the University Library lawn in Brownsville and on the Quad in Edinburg.

Ana Muñoz, an international business junior, said she enjoys attending the events because she can meet people and make new friends.

Mass communication sophomore Ivania Gutierrez sits on mass communication senior Andy Gutierrez’s shoulders while holding a UTRGV flag for a photo in front of the burning letters during the Fire Up event on the Edinburg campus. FERNANDO RAMIREZ/THE RIDER

“I really like to participate in these events,” Muñoz said. “I really like it, like, the UTRGV students can come together and get to know each other and enjoy their university life.”

Last Tuesday, the Co-Ed Flag Football game took place on the University Library lawn on the Brownsville campus. The same day, the UTRGV Groove happened on the Student Union Patio in Edinburg.

The UTRGV Groove consisted of students creating their own personalized T-shirts. Students Activities provided a free white shirt. Students had to first wrap the shirt with a rubber band and put it in water. When the shirt was wet enough, students placed it on the tables and finally painted them with tie-dye paint.

Marissa Rodriguez, a management junior, participated in the event. Rodriguez said she encourages students to come to Homecoming Week events and show support for UTRGV’s basketball team.

“I like it, it’s very organized and friendly,” she said. “I think it’s nice that they are trying to involve the students, and the organizations are trying to get more people out there. It’s just a nice way to bring people together.”

Criminal justice junior Katharyn Gauna (left), criminal justice sophomore Claudia Sequera, nursing sophomore Ianelly Garza tie dye shirts during the UTRGV Groove on the Brownsville campus library lawn last Wednesday. UTRGV Groove was hosted by Campus Activities Board and Student Union, who provided the free shirts and supplies to students. SUSAN MIRELES/THE RIDER

Last Wednesday, the UTRGV Groove took place on the University Library lawn on the Brownsville campus. Meanwhile, the Wrapping of the Letters happened behind the UTRGV police station.

The annual tradition consisted of students and staff wrapping each of the letters that spell out UTRGV.

The Homecoming Golf Cart Parade got underway Thursday night in Edinburg, with a glow-in-the-dark theme. The procession made its way from the Unity Residence Hall and finished at the Fieldhouse.

During halftime of the UTRGV men’s basketball game against Utah Valley University, the deans of the colleges, the dean of students and students showed off their free-throw skills in the Battle of the Colleges.

Grewal Parwinder, executive vice president for Research, Graduate Studies and New Program Development, represented the Graduate College and took the win by scoring 10 free throws with the help of Martin Jalomo, a curriculum and instruction doctoral student.

After the game, members of the university community gathered at the Fieldhouse parking lot for the traditional Burning of the Letters.

Last Friday, the UTRGV Baseball Team opened its season at home against Kansas State University. Results were unavailable at press time.

Homecoming Week ended Saturday with a Tailgate and Cook-Off in the Fieldhouse parking lot. The event was followed by the Vaqueros’ basketball game against Seattle University. Results were unavailable at press time.

“We have a lot of students who are coming out and showing their school spirit,” said Lauren Contreras, assistant director of Student Activities. “It helps the school spirit all around when students show up to events. So, if students come out, then it’ll be that much better.”

International business junior Ana Muñoz prepares to shoot a basketball during the Tip Off Party Feb. 10 on the Edinburg campus. The event was one of the few activities that took place on both campuses during Homecoming Week. FERNANDO RAMIREZ/THE RIDER
Mechanical engineering graduate student Erik Ramirez receives free pizza during the Tip Off Party on Feb. 10 on the quad in Edinburg. FERNANDO RAMIREZ/THE RIDER
Nursing sophomore Ianelly Garza (left) and criminal justice junior Katharyn Gauna shoot basketballs during the Tip Off Party Feb. 10 on the Library lawn in Brownsville. SUSAN MIRELES/THE RIDER
Nursing junior Mariana Cruz (left) and social work sophomore Angela Escobar attend UTRGV Groove last Tuesday outside the Student Union on the Edinburg campus. UTRGV Groove was part of a series of events last week celebrating Homecoming 2020. AMANDA VELA/THE RIDER
Business information system freshman Noe Barrientos (left), marketing freshman Dyami Roman and business information system sophomore Ivan Hernandez create tie-dye shirts during UTRGV Groove Dye It Yourself Party last Wednesday. SUSAN MIRELES/THE RIDER
Kinesiology junior Oscar Esparza (from left), finance sophomore Jacob Gonzalez and political science junior Roldan Rodriguez create tie-dye T-shirts last Tuesday outside the Student Union on the Edinburg campus. AMANDA VELA/THE RIDER
Computer science freshman Carolina Villalpando tie dyes a shirt during the UTRGV Groove event at the Brownsville campus library lawn last Wednesday. SUSAN MIRELES/THE RIDER
Student Activities Assistant Director Lauren Contreras helps a student with her tie-dye T-shirt last Tuesday outside the Student Union on the Edinburg campus. AMANDA VELA/THE RIDER
The UTRGV Campus Activities Board invited students to create tie-dye T-shirts last Tuesday outside the Student Union on the Edinburg campus to show their school pride during Homecoming week. T-shirts and supplies were provided for free to students. AMANDA VELA/THE RIDER
Participants of the Battle of the Colleges, a free-throw shooting competition between the deans and students at halftime during Thursday night’s men’s basketball game against Utah Valley, gather to take a photo at the Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus. AMANDA VELA/THE RIDER
The UTRGV Cheer Team and Vaquero pose during the Fire Up event last Thursday night at the Fieldhouse parking lot on the Edinburg campus. FERNANDO RAMIREZ/THE RIDER
The UTRGV letters burn during Thursday’s night Fire Up event, which took place after the men’s basketball game against Utah Valley University on the Edinburg Fieldhouse parking lot. FERNANDO RAMIREZ/THE RIDER