PULSE – Vaqueros explore community opportunities

UTRGV Student Union employees senior Kevin Ramirez (from left), sophomore Gabriella Ponce and senior Jarrett Quezada pose with V’s up during the Volunteer Fair Tuesday afternoon on the Edinburg campus. Students were invited to join for fun activities such as axe throwing and learn how to get involved on campus.
Logan Huizar/Pulse

The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley Center for Student Involvement held a Volunteer Fair Tuesday on the Edinburg campus for students looking to get involved in the community.

The fair was held to showcase different local nonprofit organizations that students can join to become members and volunteer in the Rio Grande Valley.

Angela Montelongo, program coordinator of Center for Student Involvement, said she hopes to connect students with these organizations that they may not be aware of.

“We’re just trying to bring this opportunity to campus, to facilitate that connection between them,” Montelongo said. “We just want to make it a little bit easier for them.”

Representatives from local nonprofits and organizations such as C.A.M.P University, speak with students at the UTRGV Volunteer Fair Tuesday on the Edinburg campus. The event highlighted ways students can engage with their community and support meaningful causes.
Logan Huizar/Pulse

At the fair, the nonprofit booths had games and pamphlets for students to help gain interest to join the organizations.

Adan Gonzalez, a UTRGV electrical engineering sophomore, said that he always makes sure to visit the fairs whenever they are on campus.

“Even if I’m not interested, I at least check them out,” Gonzalez said. “There’s literally so many hours in the day, so much free time, ‘Why not do it volunteering?’”

Student assistants were there to help engage students in stopping by for a chat with the nonprofits that were present at the volunteer fair.

Nevaeh Kidz Conquering Cancer, a nonprofit that provides resources for children and families going through pediatric cancer attended the fair.

The organization empowers, inspires and encourages the community to get involved to make a difference for children battling cancer.

Genesis De Leon, a UTRGV biomedical science junior, said she has been volunteering in the RGV since she was in middle school and she is now a student assistant for the Center of Student Involvement.

The Office of Community Engagement volunteers speak to students at the UTRGV Volunteer Fair Tuesday outside the Student Union on the Edinburg campus.
Logan Huizar/Pulse

According to De Leon, she feels that volunteering is important because it makes you involved with your community and campus.

The UTRGV Center for Student Involvement also helps students get introduced to volunteering even if they have a schedule filled with studying, class and homework.

“We have an engagement zone page here on campus, and it shows all the different needs that the community has,” Montelongo said. “There are some that are just helping write letters or just showing up to an office and helping translate a paper for somebody.”

You can contact the Center for StudentInvolvement at csi@utrgv.edu to learn about ways to volunteer in the community.

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