UTRGV Day celebration at the Ballroom in the Edinburg Campus. Emilio Suarez/Vaquero Radio
UTRGV brought students, staff and faculty together at four locations across the Rio Grande Valley to celebrate a special milestone. News Director Emilio Suarez with the details.
UTRGV hosted its 11th-year anniversary celebration in Edinburg, McAllen, Harlingen and Brownsville with free T-shirts, cupcakes and refreshments.
Attendees were also able to take photos with a special backdrop at the event and received additional items.
UTRGV Director of Strategic Events and Partnership Karen Dorado said UTRGV Day is important because it brings the campus community together.
“UTRGV Day celebrates the university’s anniversary, and it is important to me because it is an opportunity for UTRGV student staff and faculty to come together to celebrate everything that the university has accomplished and also the future that’s ahead,” Dorado said.
The event also highlights UTRGV pride and spirit.
Dorado said people who make up the university are what they are most proud of.
“UTRGV has accomplished so much since its start, and I am personally proud of the people that make up UTRGV,” Dorado said. “Our students, our staff and faculty.”
Human Resources Organizational Development and Training Consultant Krystal Marroquin said she hopes attendees left the celebration with a greater sense of university pride.
“It’s fun to see the line as people are getting ready to come in and get their shirts,” Marroquin said. “At the root of it is, everybody’s excited about being able to wear their UTRGV colors and show them,” she said.
Marroquin said her expectations of attendees were from about 500 and 600 people.
She said the event also included discounts from some campus vendors and outside businesses for people wearing UTRGV gear.
Some participating businesses in attendance were Vaquero Outfitters and JayCo Ink.
Marroquin added UTRGV’s future looks bright as the university enters its 11th year.
“I’ve been here even since before we became UTRGV, so I was here when we established and so the growth that we’ve had in the last 10 years have been amazing. So, the next 10, I think, is just going to be even brighter. Football is bringing a lot of spirit. And in general, I think we’re going to keep getting bigger and bigger and just getting the Valley’s name out there,” Marroquin said.
Marroquin said she is most proud of how UTRGV represents the Rio Grande Valley and its students.
She said the celebration gave UTRGV employees an opportunity to reconnect with colleagues they do not see every day.
This is Emilio Suarez for Vaquero Radio.
