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UTRGV is hosting Homecoming Week with several events for all students, alumni, faculty, staff and the community to enjoy the Vaquero spirit through Feb. 17.
Assistant Director for Student Activities Cristina Rodriguez said the event week is focused on bringing the students and alumni together from all generations to be able to “orange out.”
“We wanna make sure that people really enjoy and feel that spirit for our current students and, then, our alumni and even our faculty staff,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a cohesive family, you know, we want everyone at UTRGV to feel that warmth.”
Free admission is provided for students with their ID.
“Don’t forget that ID,” Rodriguez said. “Faculty, staff and alumni and community can purchase their tickets.”
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She also said that Student Activities and the other departments, such as the Center for Student Involvement, the School of Podiatry and the Student Union want to make sure that students “get the most of it” since the funding for these events come from student fees.
“So, I would say please look at the website,” Rodriguez said. “Please look at each of the events individually.”
On the Harlingen campus, one of the most famous events is the Dye Hard Orange 5K, which took place Saturday outside the Clinical Education Building.
The event promotes wellness and tradition.
On the Brownsville campus, The Block Party is a new event which will take place from noon to 4 p.m. today on the Student Union lawn.
“If you wanna make your own personal street sign or you wanna decorate some cowboy hats or, you know, those are just two out of … five or six different items,” Rodriguez said.
On the Edinburg campus, the Burning of the Letters, one of the most important Homecoming traditions, will take place at 8:30 p.m. Thursday outside the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
“That one is open to everyone to really enjoy, and I think it goes back to wanting the alumni folks [and] … the community to come out,” Rodriguez said.
A variety of sports games will also take place during the week. UTRGV Baseball will play its home opener against Southern Illinois University Friday at the Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus.
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“I think it’s sounding pretty cool,” said Alex Salas, a visual communication design junior. “My sister and I are planning to head to a bunch of different events and get to meet new people.”
Juan Lopez, a biomedical science junior, said Homecoming is “going to be a great event.”
“I think every student should come and enjoy just being part of the UTRGV community,” Lopez said. For more information, visit utrgv.edu/homecoming.
