To commemorate the beginning of the school year, the Office of Student Life is putting on its annual welcome back festival to greet new and returning students.

The celebration will take place the first two weeks of classes, Aug. 24 through Sept. 4.

Miner Welcome will have booths and events all around campus, including the Student Centennial Plaza, Union Plaza and the Recreational Center. Students who attend will be able to learn more about campus, participate in motivational activities and free games to kick off the school year.

“We want to get people, especially new students, out there and to other places on campus they may not visit otherwise,” said Mallory Garcia, coordinator in the Office of Student Life. “We want to provide students a variety of adventures so they can really come together.”

This year, Miner Welcome will feature a variety of new games and events, including a dunk tank, a carnival hosted by the Green DoOneThing Initiative and booths set up by different departments around campus. Students will be able to dunk their friends and any volunteering UTEP staff, get educated about the different departments on campus and play a variety of games.

“This semester, we wanted to incorporate other campus offices, like Student Government Association, Student Engagement and Leadership Center, the Division of Student Affairs and Rec Sports,” Garcia said. “One thing to note is this happens during both semesters, but this semester’s will be bigger and better than the spring’s, with much improvement.”

Other events include a Zumba party, yoga, creating tie-dye shirts, a pep rally and The Game of Life, Miners’ edition. There will also be live music, a food truck and both water and dry slides.

In the past, the welcome back festivities were held for one week only, but the Office of Student Life decidedto extend it and include more events.

“Sometimes students decide not to check out any of the events hosted during welcome week because they are trying to get accommodated to their new schedule,” Garcia said. “Something new we started in the spring was expanding it to the first two week of classes, and with it being two weeks, the students have the opportunity to use the second week to come check it out.”

The first week will focus on different registered student organizations and departments at UTEP, finding your classes and Minerpalooza at the end of the week, and the second will feature more games and activities for the students’ enjoyment.

Garcia said she believes attending events like these can have a positive impact on students.

“It can really give them a true college experience, and having it in the Centennial Plaza shows them campus is truly their space,” Garcia said. “Even though we will be having events there, students can still sit out on the grass to study, read a book, meet with their friends and just enjoy the excitement.”

The Office of Student Life plans to expand Miner Welcome each year and continue to add new and exciting events.

“We are continuously growing more and more each year,” Garcia said. “We want to show students new units on campus and help them enjoy the Centennial Plaza now that the construction has made campus more pedestrian friendly.”

Each day will have its own theme, including Throwback Thursday, Motivational Monday, Chill Fest and Orange Friday.

For more information about Welcome Week, contact the Office of Student Life at 747-5648, or visit their Facebook page to view the complete schedule.

Julia Hettiger may be reached at [email protected]