This tradition savored a beautiful time of year with our UTEP family while it gave us an opportunity to share hot cocoa together, enjoy music and appreciate the sometimes snow that visited El Paso. Season of Lights: To celebrate the joy of the holidays since 1992, the heart of the UTEP campus has glistened with a display of approximately 200,000 lights and 1,500 luminaries decorating buildings, trees and bushes. Patrick’s Day, this tradition still continues today in a more philanthropic manner with ceremonies that include collecting food for the Rescue Mission, cleaning all the arroyo plants on campus, hosting the TCM Picnic and whitewashing the “M” on the mountain overlooking Glory Field, which started in the 1960s after it was formerly located on the Franklin Mountains. Throughout the variations of this jovial celebration of St. Texas College of Mines (TCM) Day: The oldest continuous student tradition at UTEP and probably the most unique on-campus was first reported in the March 1920 print edition of The Prospector to initiate engineers and geologists into the Order of St. Both Miner events feature food, games, attractions and live music, and are sponsored by the Student Development Center. As the school year comes to an end in the spring, students prepare for finals by relaxing at Minerfest. Voted the 2009 “Best Annual Festival” by the El Paso Magazine, the climax of the event is the first official pep rally of the season where the fall sports teams and coaches are introduced, and the band, cheerleaders, and Golddiggers perform. Minerpalooza & Minerfest: What began as the alumni “Picnic on the Lawn” has now become Minerpalooza, the official back-to-school party for students, faculty and staff. Each college also recognizes the outstanding achievements of notable alumni, known as the Gold Nuggets, at the pep rally and during receptions hosted in their honor by their designated college. Followed by the Official Pep Rally, the Homecoming Court and the Distinguished Alumni for that year are presented, as well during the football halftime show the next day. One of the most popular is the float-building competition for the Homecoming Parade, which once traveled along the streets of downtown El Paso and today is held on a Friday afternoon along University Avenue. Many departments and organizations host events for alumni during the week-long celebration and students participate in spirit competitions throughout the week. Homecoming: Each fall, alumni return to the campus to reminisce about their days as a student at Texas College of Mines, Texas Western College or UTEP. Gator Campers are a class all their own and often become some of the most involved students on the campus. On another occasion, an alligator was found at the bottom of the campus swimming pool. Gator Camp: An overnight freshmen orientation experience, Gator Camp commemorates the prank-turned- UTEP tradition of “borrowing” a live alligator from downtown El Paso’s San Jacinto Plaza in the 1950s and placing it in the office of a faculty member. In recent years, many graduates have worn class medallions and the Senior Ring, which are both available through the UTEP Bookstore and whose proceeds benefit University scholarships. Each graduate is presented with a special gift – currently a “UTEP Alumni” lapel pin – from the Alumni Association to recognize their accomplishments and invite them to join the Association. Banners representing each of the academic colleges lead the procession of administration, faculty and students into the Don Haskins Center at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Commencement: Commencement, also known as the “greatest tradition at UTEP,” is the official celebration commemorating the achievements of new graduates.
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