EL PASO, Texas – The University of Texas at El Paso will be abuzz with school spirit and pep for the annual Homecoming festivities that begin Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 and continue through Saturday, Oct. 3. All of the Miner Nation is welcome to join in on the celebrations taking place this year.
“Alumni can expect to enjoy themselves as they reconnect with former classmates, professors and administrators, as well as marvel at how the campus has transformed since their days at UTEP,” said Richard Daniel, Ph.D., associate vice president for university advancement.
The 6th annual Miner Dash 5K Run/3K Walk and Family Fitness Fiesta will kick off Homecoming from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 27 at Kidd Field. Hosted by the College of Health Sciences kinesiology department, the race, formerly known as the UTEP Commitment to Fitness, will feature a wheelchair division this year. Spectators will be encouraged to join the fun at the Family Fitness Fiesta at Kidd Field. Bungee jumping, a tricycle track for toddlers and an inflatable obstacle course are a few of the entertaining activities for children and adults. Participants can also engage in the fiesta’s Passport to Fitness challenge.
A re-dedication of Mining Heritage Park will take place on the north side of campus, which is bounded by Old Main and Vowell Hall. President Natalicio will speak at the event scheduled for 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2.
The 2015 recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award will be recognized at the Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, hosted by the Office of Alumni Relations in the Don Haskins Center. The 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients are Blanca Enriquez, Gaspar Enriquez and Renard U. Johnson.
“This year’s recipients are highly accomplished in their professions,” Daniel said. “Our students will have an opportunity to hear from them and hopefully make connections with alumni which will help them with their career aspirations.”
The Student Engagement and Leadership Center will host a Float-Making Party at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 in the University Towers parking lot of Oregon Street. This event is a part of the Registered Student Organizations’ (RSO’s) RSOlympics. The tradition pits registered student organizations on campus against each other in a weeks’ worth of different activities related to UTEP’s homecoming.
The floats will be on display during the Homecoming Parade at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. The parade will run from Oregon Street to Glory Road and will include the UTEP marching band and cheerleaders, athlete appearances and creative floats. The Homecoming Pep Rally will immediately follow the Homecoming Parade at 2 p.m. at Kidd Field.
The UTEP men’s football team will play The University of Texas at San Antonio at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 in the Sun Bowl. The game against UTSA is a part of the team’s five-game home schedule. During halftime the top teams in the RSOlympics will be escorted onto the field and a champion will be announced.
A full schedule of homecoming events and festivities can be found at homecoming.utep.edu.