The UTM Undergraduate Alumni Council (UAC) is hosting their sixth annual I Heart UTM week April 22-26.
I Heart UTM week is an annual celebration of students at UTM that offers activities for students to allow them to destress before finals and celebrate the university and environment that UTM provides.
This year, several of the events have changed to offer new and exciting opportunities for students.
On Monday, April 22 UAC will host “Philanthropy Day,” which allows students to grab a donut breakfast and write a card for a donor to the university from 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m. on the UC patio. Students are encouraged to include a personal anecdote of how UTM has affected them and thank the donor for their contribution to the university.
Later that day, the annual Mike Munkel BBQ will take place at Pacer Pond. Per tradition, students can bring five food items for the Captain’s Pantry in order to receive a free tanktop. The barbecue has a host of games and activities for student to participate in, including an electric bull and a zip-line.
Tuesday of the celebratory week is “Thankful Tuesday,” which continues the letter writing by allowing students to send a small treat to one of their favorite professors, expressing their gratitude.
From noon to 1 p.m. that day, all students are encouraged to join in the “Healthy Hawk Walk” in the quadrangle. The students will meet to walk at the Administration Building.
Tuesday will be closed out with a new addition to the week’s lineup, the “Crawfish and Shrimp Boil”. This event is sponsored by the Office of Housing and will be hosted from 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. at University Village. In addition to the meal there will be games and music provided by local DJ, DJ Narleyy.
All throughout the week of events, students can catch a ride to class in the “Class Cab” a golf cart that will be driving around campus and asking trivia questions that allow students to win UTM swag.
On Wednesday, April 23, students can join UTM Chancellor Dr. Keith Carver for a cup of coffee before beginning their day. This is from 8 a.m.-9 a.m. in the UC Welcome Center.
After a quick coffee break and heading to class, students can expect to experience the ever-enjoyed annual petting zoo from noon to 3 p.m. in the quadrangle. Camel rides will again be offered to students and the entire petting zoo is hosted by Student Affairs.
During this event, Campus Rec will also be hosting “Carver’s Corner,” which is another game-based activity that will be supplemented with sweet tea and lemonade for students to drink.
To close off the “Hump Day” of I Heart UTM Week, students can join together at 3 p.m. in the Unity Circle of the quadrangle for an opportunity to witness the historic ground-breaking of the new NPHC Garden.
Thursday, April 25 is all for the seniors and graduating class of UTM.
From 9 a.m. to noon, students are encouraged to swing through the senior drive-thru at the Alumni Center to be sent off with an alumni car decal as they head into their future.
Those same seniors will be celebrated with a senior walk at 3 p.m. that afternoon as they begin at the UC Patio and walk over to their commencement practice at the Elam Center. Students will be showered with applause and smiles from the faculty and staff of the University. Follow along with The Pacer online to see pictures from this event.
Friday is the last day to wrap up events from this year’s I Heart UTM Week and it provides UAC members with a chance to visit local businesses and search the campus for students representing other universities in their apparel.
Emma Bruner, a junior Communications major from Martin is the president of UAC and has been on the council for three years.
She says that UAC has been working since January to plan this event and each year she looks forward to the celebration, “I love the enthusiasm and pride UAC has for UTM,” and that it’s her favorite week of the year because it’s, “full of activities for students to participate in before the stressful week of finals.”
Bruner encourages students to attend events for the week because it’s a great way to show UTM pride.
For any questions regarding I Heart UTM Week or UAC contact Bruner at emmrbrun@ut.utm.edu
For more coverage of I Heart UTM Week, follow along with The Pacer on social media.
