Accounting senior Paulo Cervantes (left) and psychology sophomore Jose Gutierrez face off in a pedestal joust match during the Vaqueros Block Party Thursday on the Quad on the Edinburg campus. Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER
Festivities for UTRGV’s Welcome Week will continue until next Thursday and will include a variety of events for students to start the new semester.
Welcome Week’s MLK Day of Service, originally scheduled for Jan. 15 but postponed due to inclement weather, took place today. Students cleaned up Hillcrest Memorial Park in Edinburg. Volunteers received a free T-shirt and lunch after the event.
Days of service in other cities are being scheduled, according to university officials.
The UTRGV Men’s Basketball Team will play against Tarleton State University from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the UTRGV Fieldhouse on the Edinburg campus. Admission is free for students with their ID.
Due to inclement weather, the Vaqueros Block Party has been postponed for the Brownsville campus. The event will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday on the University Library lawn.
Nayeli Ramirez, a graduate supervisor for marketing events for Student Activities, said the block party will have “different inflatables” and “outside games where students are allowed to … just relax before the start of the semester.”
Participating in the games will allow students to collect tickets and enter a drawing for prizes.
“We made these cute baskets,” Ramirez said. “We have all the prizes inside and they are filled with a lot of goodies and things that any college student would need. So, like a mini fridge, some lights, a Polaroid [camera] and some UTRGV swag.”
In Edinburg, the block party took place Thursday on the redesigned Quad.
“We are excited to welcome our students back for the spring semester,” said Massiel Muñoz, assistant director of the Student Union on the Edinburg campus.
Muñoz said students were able to enter a drawing at the Vaqueros Block Party on the Edinburg campus.
“We’re collaborating with the University Recreation Center, and they have different activities,” she said. “The more you play with those different stations, the more tickets you can get for the raffle and those prizes.”
The Nutritional Sciences and Health Society tabled at the event and offered face paintings to students in attendance.
Denise Dominguez, a nutritional sciences senior, said the organization is open to all students.
“It is open to anyone who wants to come in and do some community services and is interested in nutrition,” Dominguez said. “We do a lot of outreach and volunteering.”
Estefany Ramirez, a hospitality and tourism management sophomore, said she would attend more Welcome Week events.
“I like the event because we were able to get free food, and they were also giving s’mores,” Ramirez said. “There’s a bunch of bouncy houses and music. It’s pretty cool. I would attend more events if they’re not conflicting with my schedule.”
The Campus Activities Board will screen the movie “Pitch Perfect” from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the PlainsCapital Bank Theater in the Student Union on the Edinburg campus and from noon to 2 p.m. next Thursday at the PlainsCapital Bank El Gran Salón in the Student Union on the Brownsville campus.
For more information about Welcome Week, visit V Link.
–Reporter Sofia M. Cantú Sauceda contributed to this story.
