We have school spirit, yes we do!

School spirit was definitely in the air at this year’s I Heart UHCL Day.

There was music playing, smiles on faces, and a sense of comradery that was infectious.

I Heart UHCL Day kicked off at noon, Oct. 14, as part of UHCL’s Spirit Week – a week of activities designed so students, faculty and staff could show their school pride.

Atrium II was filled with colorful balloons and lanterns of blue and green depicting the school’s colors. Tables adorned with blue and green tablecloths were displayed throughout the atrium representing over 30 organizations comprised of students and staff representatives from all across campus.

Blue and green cards in the shape of a heart were given out at the sign-in table. Attendees were encouraged to visit at least seven booths and get their card punched at each just for stopping by. Students then present the punched card at the prize table to receive a spirit week t-shirt and some very cool shades.

Games and activities included trivia, a bobbing for apples contest, jeopardy, dollar raffles to win gift cards, and more. The library staff was making buttons onsite with pictures of different animals and abstract designs. Prizes ranged from t-shirts, wristbands, sunglasses and, of course, lots and lots of chocolate.

The Student Life Office supplied a photo backdrop with an “I Heart UHCL” design for students, faculty and staff to capture their school spirit. The photos can be viewed on the Student Life Facebook page.

Mohammed Awojobi, treasurer of the Black Student’s Association, is from Nigeria and has only been on campus two months. He said, he was excited about being a part of I Heart UHCL Day.

“I love this environment,” Awojobi said. “I can both study and have fun at the same time.”

Students, faculty and staff have been gearing up for weeks for this event. Many offices decorated windows and doors for the coveted first place prize in best decoration categories, but there could only be one winner for each category. To view a list of the winners visit the Student Life Facebook page.

Over 1,700 online votes were cast to choose the popular vote winners.

The Office of Intercultural Student Services (ISS) won the popular vote for “Best Office” title, five years in a row now.

Erica Garcia and Nhee Vang, coordinators in ISS, were on hand to receive the award.

“Our students are to get most of the credit for the time they put into making the office a continuous prize winner; they were very confident, and they put in a lot of hard work,” Garcia said.

The Office of the Dean of Students and the Student Assistance Center won for Group School Spirit and, individually, for Best Judged Window and Best Judged Office, respectively.

“We tried to go all out and we are excited we won,” said Nikki Olivas, coordinator in the Student Assistance Center, which is also a part of the Dean of Student’s office.

This was the first time for the judged categories.

Kent Case, coordinator in the Student Assistance Center was on hand to receive the Group School Spirit award. Their office along with the Dean of Students office won for the second year in a row.

“Now we have to figure out how we will top what we’ve done this year for next year,” Case said. “We’ll start planning now and we welcome all challenges.”

Patrick Cardenas, student life coordinator, first implemented “I Heart UHCL Day” as a one-day event back in 2009. As the university transitioned into a four–year-university, Cardenas felt the need to expand into a week of events and activities.

“A new week-long series of events would add to campus activities for students and expand on a new campus life now that we have freshmen and sophomores on campus; mostly attending courses during the day,” Cardenas said. “It is truly a team effort both within Student Life and out in the UHCL community.  I think a large program like Spirit Week is more successful with the support of many areas on campus.”

Cardenas further credited the bookstore, Campus Recreation, PASA, SSA, SGA, Hawk Spirit and Traditions Council, SLICE, and even FMC in supporting this large spirit program.

“I Heart UHCL Day is important to bring faculty and staff together for one major purpose, which is to show our support and love for UHCL together,” said Carla Bradley, president of the Communication and Digital Media Association.

 

VIDEO: Students show their
school spirit at I Heart UHCL Day

Video by The Signal reporters Kyle Harrison and Zachery Sang.