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UTA alumna Lucy Hernandez, center, shoots off a confetti cannon during the 130th Birthday Bash on Sept. 5 at Brazos Park. The crowd sang happy birthday to UTA, celebrating its 130th anniversary.<\/p>\n
Photo by Joel Solis<\/a><\/p>\n UTA\u2019s 130th Birthday Bash went off without a hitch Friday at Brazos Park. The area was festive and vibrant, decorated with UTA\u2019s colors of blue, white and orange. <\/p>\n Students steadily arrived at the event, trickling in to the sound of UTA Radio blaring through speakers. The rising temperature was not a deterrent, and a large crowd had formed minutes after the event began. <\/p>\n UTA President Jennifer Cowley speaks to the crowd during the 130th Birthday Bash on Sept. 5 at Brazos Park. Cowley wished UTA a happy birthday and acknowledged the milestones that led to where the campus is now.<\/p>\n Photo by Joel Solis<\/a><\/p>\n Mark LaVelle, university events assistant vice president, said that the events office and the Marketing, Messaging and Engagement office planned the event for a year.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got a great team that has been out here all morning setting things up,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n Booths selling merchandise and giving out prizes were scattered throughout the park. The UTA Bookstore was selling limited edition 130th anniversary merchandise like knit blankets and boots. <\/p>\n Maria Yareli Delgado, senior director of the Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives, laughs with students during the 130th Birthday Bash on Sept. 5 at Brazos Park. Delgado said she enjoyed seeing UTA grow with its buildings for the students.<\/p>\n Photo by Joel Solis<\/a><\/p>\n UTA Libraries showed off yearbooks, buttons, photos and the \u201cBligeon,\u201d a stone pigeon statue that has a Blaze mohawk and head, given by a previous UTA employee to bring attention to the university’s history.<\/p>\n The Bligeon, originally from The Parks Mall at Arlington, was auctioned off by the River Legacy Foundation and eventually found its way to UTA. It is now preserved in the archives, said Sara Pezzoni, university archivist in Special Collections and Archives. <\/p>\n Ms. UTA, Sraavya Maulika Yenugapalli, left, and Mr. UTA, Harshdeep Singh, address the crowd during the 130th Birthday Bash on Sept. 5 at Brazos Park. Yenugapalli and Singh were elected as co-presidents of the UTA Ambassadors last April.<\/p>\n Photo by Joel Solis<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re trying to just show where we\u2019ve come from and where we are now,\u201d Pezzoni said. <\/p>\n The event also included a time capsule to commemorate the 130th anniversary. Students, faculty, alumni and other attendees could write advice and messages for future Mavericks, said Lauren Little, director of brand and marketing. <\/p>\n In May, the university also asked members of the community and donors and friends of the university to share their hopes and dreams for UTA, said Jeff Carlton, executive director of strategic communications in the Office of the President. <\/p>\n UTA President Jennifer Cowley wears UTA-themed boots during the 130th Birthday Bash on Sept. 5 at Brazos Park. Celebrating UTA\u2019s anniversary, attendees dressed in campus-related attire.<\/p>\n Photo by Joel Solis<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI just think it\u2019s a really good opportunity to celebrate where UTA is today and to look ahead and think about what kind of impact this university will have on Arlington and on Texas in the future,\u201d Carlton said. <\/p>\n Cheerleaders performed before Mr. and Ms. UTA took the stage. President Jennifer Cowley wore limited edition 130th anniversary white cowboy boots as she gave her speech. <\/p>\n Cowley spoke about the history of the university from its humble beginning as Arlington College to the large campus it is today. <\/p>\n Adonis Ramos, 30, left, and Rekerra Reynolds of Development and Alumni Relations listen to a speech during the 130th Birthday Bash on Sept. 5 at Brazos Park. UTA invited alumni and students to attend the event.<\/p>\n Photo by Joel Solis<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis university is about 130 years of students chasing big dreams and a faculty and staff shaping lives and knowledge, of Mavericks rising to meet challenges of our times,\u201d Cowley said. \u201cIf our history has shown us anything, it\u2019s that UTA isn\u2019t a story that\u2019s written by the buildings around us. It\u2019s a story written by the people who are here.\u201d <\/p>\n Public health sophomore Martin Camarillo helped set off the confetti cannons after the birthday song. Orange and blue confetti paper rained down around delighted attendees. <\/p>\n A 130 anniversary pin during the 130th Birthday Bash on Sept. 5 at Brazos Park. Alumni and staff wore anniversary pins for the event.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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