By News and Internal Communications

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – DEC. 1, 2023 – UTRGV for the ninth year is hosting its annual Holiday Card Contest, a holiday tradition designed give students a break from academics and encourage them to showcase their creativity.  

UTRGV President Guy Bailey and Provost Luis Zayas each chose their top three favorites from among the 156 submissions. Both said their decisions were difficult, as they were amazed by all the entries.

“Every year, I am extremely impressed with our students’ artistic talents, and this year was no different,” Bailey said. “We received 156 entries, which made it very difficult to select the winners. I am so proud of our students, and I’d like to thank all those who took time to submit an entry.”

Zayas, who is participating in the contest for the first time, said he is grateful to be part of this UTRGV holiday tradition.

“I had a great time reviewing the submissions and selecting the winners,” Zayas said. “This is my first semester at UTRGV and I’ve been extremely impressed with our students. Not only are they hard-working and dedicated, but they also are incredibly talented. This contest was just further proof of that.”

Maritza Flores’s winning card design this year depicts a huge Vaquero float balloon hovering above a Christmas Parade in the Rio Grande Valley.

PRESIDENT’S HOLIDAY CARD WINNERS

MARITZA FLORES, a cybersecurity major from Edinburg, was awarded first place and received a $1,000 scholarship.

Flores’s win shows that exercising your talents and perseverance pays off, as she participated in the contest in 2021 and 2022 and her designs were awarded runner-up placement both years.

Flores’s card design this year depicts a huge Vaquero float balloon hovering above a Christmas Parade in the Rio Grande Valley.

“The inspiration behind my card design was the McAllen Holiday Parade, which my family and I attend every year,” Flores said. “I was inspired by how events like this allow families to come together to create lifelong memories.

“The holiday season is a magical time, when we are able to share our love, offer our support and create a sense of togetherness. It helps those who are facing difficulties during the holidays go beyond their problems to enjoy the season.” 

Italia Alfaro, an exercise science major from Brownsville and runner-up, received a $500 scholarship in president's category. Alfaro’s card design depicts a Christmas tree with UTRGV ornaments surrounded by traditional Hispanic culture decorations and patterns. (UTRGV Photo by David Pike)

ITALIA ALFARO, an exercise science major from Brownsville and runner-up, received a $500 scholarship.

Alfaro’s card design depicts a Christmas tree with UTRGV ornaments surrounded by traditional Hispanic culture decorations and patterns.

“The choices we make in life have unlimited possibilities,” Alfaro said. “Our culture, ambitions, who we are today and what we aspire to achieve are all things that have influenced me to create the design for this year’s holiday card contest.”

Carmen Sevilla, a graphic design major from Edinburg and runner-up in the president's category, received a $500 scholarship. Sevilla’s card depicts traditional holiday pastries surrounding a cup of hot chocolate with a barista-like painting of the UTRGV Vaquero in the hot chocolate. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)

CARMEN SEVILLA, a graphic design major from Edinburg and runner-up, received a $500 scholarship.

Sevilla’s card depicts traditional holiday pastries surrounding a cup of hot chocolate with a barista-like painting of the UTRGV Vaquero in the hot chocolate.

“Hot chocolate was the inspiration behind my card. I have a nostalgic feeling toward hot chocolate –it’s what I used to have a lot in my childhood,” Sevilla said. ‘What a perfect time to drink hot chocolate!”

PROVOST’S HOLIDAY CARD WINNERS 

Robby-Anne Martinez, a social studies major from Edinburg, was awarded first place in the provost's category and received a $1,000 scholarship. Martinez’s card design illustrates a variety of hanging ornaments that each represent an aspect of UTRGV and the Valley. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)

ROBBY-ANNE MARTINEZ, a social studies major from Edinburg, was awarded first place and received a $1,000 scholarship.

Martinez’s card design illustrates a variety of hanging ornaments that each represent an aspect of UTRGV and the Valley. 

"What could be a more fitting choice for a holiday card than adorning it with ornaments that embody the unity of the Valley and UTRGV,” she said. “By prominently featuring the bronco as the main ornament, I wanted to blend both the old and new mascots as a tribute to UTRGV's past.

“The remaining ornaments each capture the spirit of both the school and the Valley, whether through minimalistic UTRGV logos or the piñata, boot and palm tree, all of which represent the Valley’s rich culture,” she said.

Vidhya Biju, a chemistry major from Edinburg and runner-up in the provost's category, received a $500 scholarship. Biju’s card design depicts the graphic of a UTRGV V’s Up logo with holiday graphics drawn inside. (UTRGV Photo by Paul Chouy)

VIDHYA BIJU, a chemistry major from Edinburg and runner-up, received a $500 scholarship.

Biju’s card design depicts the graphic of a UTRGV V’s Up logo with holiday graphics drawn inside.

“The Valley is home to a wide variety of races and cultures, so I wanted to ensure that my design would be one that embraces the simplicity of the idea that the holiday season is a great time for everyone to come together,” Biju said. “The main feature of my card design is the “V” symbol that all students use when regarding UTRGV. And I used the UTRGV colors along with gold to bring out the festive nature of the Valley.”

Mia Davila, an integrated health science major from Brownsville and runner-up in the provost's category, received a $500 scholarship. Davila’s card design illustrates the famous UTRGV sign from both campuses decked out in holiday lights surrounded by palm trees and Texas boots. (UTRGV Photo by David Pike)

MIA DAVILA, an integrated health science major from Brownsville and runner-up, received a $500 scholarship.

Davila’s card design illustrates the famous UTRGV sign from both campuses decked out in holiday lights surrounded by palm trees and Texas boots. 

"My inspiration comes from the vibrant campus environment that surrounds me every day,” Davila said, “from the UTRGV letters to the numerous palm trees that grace our campus. I even incorporated the cowboy boots, all to symbolize Vaquero spirit!"

PURCHASING HOLIDAY CARDS

All the winning student-designed holiday cards will be available for purchase online and in person at campus book stores on both campuses starting Dec. 4.

Card packages cost $12 each and contain 12 total cards, two of each design. All net proceeds will be donated to the UTRGV Student Food Pantry, which helps UTRGV students meet their basic nutritional needs.