Diversity in UTRGV

Not even a strong drizzle and midday heat could stop international and domestic students from interacting with each other.

As part of the Best Week Ever festivities, the Office of Global Engagement and its supporting units organized the fourth annual International Meet & Greet on the Brownsville campus. In Edinburg, the event took place last Tuesday at the University Center Circle.

Samantha Lopez, director of the International Admissions and Student Services department, said the purpose of the event was to welcome more than 750 international graduate and undergraduate students enrolled for the semester and showcase all the nationalities within UTRGV.

“We have more than 65 countries represented at UTRGV,” Lopez said.

Those countries include Brazil, Spain, Russia, India, Mexico and Canada.

The event started on the Brownsville campus Student Union lawn with the Banda de Música de la Escuela Preparatoria por Cooperación Ricardo Flores Magón playing popular songs such as “La Bamba” and “La Mordidita.” The Ricardo Flores Magón cheerleaders, with colorful red attire, chanted and cheered to the rhythm of the band’s music.

UTRGV students carrying flags from different countries represented at the university also marched with the band all the way to the Main Courtyard.

Doris Cedillo, a music education senior, said she has volunteered in the event nine times since 2014 and as an international student from Mexico, she enjoys interacting with the other colleagues at these events.

The parade ended at the Main Courtyard, where tables from several UTRGV departments, such as the Learning Center, Housing and Residence Life, Graduate College and others, waited to present their services to the attendees.

Free hot dogs, drinks and bolis were available for students.

“It’s important for UTRGV to learn more about the cultures that are here within UTRGV: the countries, the different students that we have, to learn more about their customs and to recognize international education,” Lopez said.

Graduate student Mohammad Maruf Billah, from Bangladesh, said events, such as the International Meet & Greet, help bring international students together.

“The event is mind-blowing,” Billah said. “It’s a great gathering of the international students; we get to know each other, even the culture.”

Lopez said the Office of Global Engagement and its branches–International Admissions and Student Services, Language Institute and International Programs and Partnerships–always aim to follow UTRGV’s mission statement, which is to transform the Rio Grande Valley with students from around the world.

“Within the whole year, we have more than 21 international students  events through both campuses,” Lopez said.

Such events include Lunar New Year, International Education Week, the International Thanksgiving Luncheon as well as coffee and doughnuts every other week.

“We want to make sure that [students] feel at home,” Lopez said. “Even though they don’t have their families or their friends, we are their family here at UTRGV.”