By Victoria Brito Morales

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – DEC. 5, 2025 – This holiday season carries an extra special meaning at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley as the institution celebrates its 10-year anniversary. UTRGV is honoring a favorite campus tradition — its annual Holiday Card Contest, where student creatives help ring in the season.

UTRGV President Guy Bailey, Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Luis Zayas, along with a team of faculty and Division of University Marketing and Communications staff reviewed student submissions to select the official holiday cards for both the president and the provost.

More than 100 entries were reviewed, with UTRGV’s leaders selecting two winners: one from the Personally Designed category (artwork created without AI assistance) and one from the AI-Enhanced category (artwork that incorporates AI technology). Each of the four winners will receive a $1,000 UTRGV scholarship. 

In celebration of UTRGV's 10th anniversary, student submissions reflected the university's history, embracing the festive spirit of the holidays through themes such as Vaquero spirit, campus landmarks and university colors. 

“This year’s entries were incredibly creative and distinctive,” Bailey said. “Having seen many submissions over the years, I can definitely say that the details and artistry keep evolving, showcasing our growth as a university over the past decade.”

Zayas, who has been involved in the Holiday Card Contest since 2023, praised this year’s entries for the embodiment of the Vaquero spirit. 

“The creativity exhibited in this year’s submissions was impressive. Students truly showcased our university’s sense of community.” 

The winners will be recognized during UTRGV’s holiday receptions on Dec. 8 in Edinburg and Dec. 9 in Brownsville. 

2025 PRESIDENT AND PROVOST HOLIDAY CARD WINNERS 

PRESIDENT HOLIDAY CARDS

Personally Designed: Isaura Garcia, a freshman visual design major from McAllen, drew inspiration from her childhood holidays in the Rio Grande Valley. Her artwork captures the joy of Valley winters, bright lights, warm smiles and the festive spirit of time spent with family and friends. “I’m really grateful that my design was chosen out of so many wonderful pieces. I’m super excited for the holidays,” Garcia said. 

AI-Enhanced: Joceline Barrientos, a senior marketing major from Edinburg, was inspired by UTRGV’s mascot, Victory, and the university’s rapid growth. Her design features Victory riding through a desert sunset, guided by the North Star. “Being selected feels incredibly validating, especially as I prepare to graduate this semester,” Barrientos said. “It’s a reminder that the work I’ve put in hasn’t gone unnoticed and it motivates me to finish strong and step confidently into what’s next.” 

PROVOST HOLIDAY CARDS 

Personally Designed: Maricela Estrada, a junior accountancy major from Brownsville, imagined a UTRGV Christmas scene inside Victory’s home. Her design features a Sabal palm decorated as a Christmas tree and a nod to the university’s new football team with a helmet placed on a UTRGV-branded area rug celebrating UTRGV Football’s inaugural year. “I am extremely excited for this opportunity of my artwork being recognized,” Estrada said. “Digital art has been a passion of mine for a while now, and for my university to validate my passion is something I am grateful for. I spent about seven hours on my holiday card and I loved every second. It is truly an honor to be selected.” 

AI-Enhanced: Atena Tavangarifard, a second-year doctoral student in the Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship, depicted the UTRGV campus as a precious gift, symbolizing the opportunities and growth each new semester brings. With vibrant colors and joyful details, her design embodies the spirit of renewal, hope and gratitude that define both the holiday season and the UTRGV experience. Tavangarifard, from Tehran, Iran, said that being selected as a winner is validation of her journey and hard work at the university. “It also motivates me to work even harder and continue giving my best because feeling valued is one of the strongest pushes a person can get,” Tavangarifard said. “Being selected gives me confidence for future situations and reminds me that whenever I want to achieve something, the most important things are consistency and not giving up.”