Welcome Week wrapping up at UTRGV

Gloria Aguilar | Pulse 

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will conclude its Fall 2024 Welcome Week activities with Late Nite at the Rec and a women’s soccer game.

Welcome Week started Aug. 26 with many activities for students to enjoy and build community. 

Today, events include the Part Time Job Fair, scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today at the University Ballroom on the Edinburg campus, and Late Nite at the Rec, which takes place from 9 p.m. to midnight today at the University Recreation Building, also in Edinburg. 

At 6:30 p.m. Friday the UTRGV Women’s soccer team faces off against Howard Payne University. At noon Sunday, the Vaqueros will battle at home against the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. 

From Aug. 26 to 30, the university held traditional events such as the Get Involved Fairs and The Stomp. 

The purpose of the Get Involved Fairs is for students to get the opportunity to meet members of student organizations, according to the Center for Student Involvement. The Filipino Student Association and the Student Film Association were some of the organizations present at the event.

Jerry Fuentes, secretary of the Student Film Association, said that getting involved means getting out of your comfort zone and into memorable experiences.

 “In our field, there’s so many introverted people, myself included,” Fuentes said. “The programs are here to help [students] out.” 

During the Get Involved Fairs, students are encouraged to join organizations. 

“Joining organizations on campus really helps you get into the groove and outsourcing yourself and having those communities to uplift you,” said River Motta, co-president of the Filipino Student Association. “It’s a good way to find family.” 

Edward Vasquez, a criminal justice junior, said joining campus organizations can help students get the “university experience they’re looking for” and the opportunity to meet new people.

 Apart from helping to kick off the semester, the fairs allow students to know what college has for them, said Kassandra Romo, program coordinator for the Center for Student Involvement.

“[The fairs make] sure that students are aware and attending our events because it is really to benefit them, to get [students] connected with groups related to their interest and help build their sense of belonging within the university,” Romo said.

On Aug. 27 and 29, many students attended The Stomp and showed support by participating in various activities. Students received free drinks, food and keepsakes along with meeting other students. 

Hundreds of students attended The Stomp Aug. 27 in Brownsville and Aug. 29 in Edinburg. Students line-danced to music by a live band, hung out with fellow students, picked up keepsakes from campus departments and local businesses and were served pizza, hot dogs, ice cream and soft drinks.

This year, the university changed the location and time of The Stomp, opting to host it outside and during the evening. 

 “This is kind of more of a vibe because it’s outside,” said English senior Monica Morales. “… There is a bunch more activities. I think it’s important for students to come to events to build personal relationships.” 

Earlier on Aug. 29, the UTRGV’s Women’s Soccer team played against the Southern Jaguars at the UTRGV Soccer and Track & Field Complex in Edinburg. The Vaqueros defeated the Jaguars 1-0. 

“This year we have been connecting so well,” midfielder Linnea Eld said about the team’s unity this season. “We’re living so close to each other and we’re always with each other.”

This is UTRGV’s ninth Welcome Week since the university opened its doors in 2015. It celebrated the milestone by giving out free cupcakes and T-shirts during UTRGV Day Aug. 28 on the Brownsville, Edinburg, McAllen and Harlingen campuses.

“This amazing institution has given me many opportunities,” said marketing junior Santiago Vazquez.

 “UTRGV Day is a way to show how proud we are of the university and how proud they are of us by giving us all this amazing stuff.”  

For more information on the events, visit https://www.utrgv.edu/welcomeweek/.