UTRGV expands Earth Fest into monthlong sustainability celebration

By News and Media Relations

By Leslie Hurtado

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – MAY 21, 2026 – The UTRGV Office for Sustainability (OFS) extended the annual Earth Fest into a monthlong celebration this year, turning April into “Earth Month” to highlight sustainability efforts across campuses and Rio Grande Valley community.

Events took place April 14-29, with the annual two-day Earth Fest celebration drawing nearly 500 participants to the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses.

Festivities kicked off on the Edinburg Campus Chapel Lawn on April 14, followed by a second day of celebration on the Brownsville Campus Student Union Lawn on April 16. (UTRGV Photo by Jonathan Leal)

This year’s unique lineup of activities for Earth Fest included:

• Wellness-focused yoga and Pilates exercises led by instructor Amy Jo of UTRGV’s URec.
• Vegan taco food booth from Chartwells Dining Services.
• An opportunity to shop small with the ceramics club at
• A visit from Palm Valley Animal Society to promote pet adoption.
• Interactive art pieces, including rock paintings.

Valerie Hernandez, OFS outreach lead, crafted an interactive string art installation by repurposing materials from her family’s ranch in Starr County.

“My favorite thing about this piece is it is a whimsical way of introducing innovative sustainability practices to folks in the region,” Hernandez said.

Turning ranch material waste into art, Valerie Hernandez uses repurposed hay bale string and upcycled wood to depict the monarch butterfly. The interactive installation allowed students to pose and take pictures with the backdrop. (UTRGV Photo by Jonathan Leal)

The piece depicted a monarch butterfly, an enduring symbol of transformation in the Rio Grande Valley, made from typically discarded hay bale string and upcycled nails and wood embodying environmental awareness. Attendees were able to take pictures with the monarch wings as a backdrop for the entire duration of Earth Fest on the Edinburg Campus Chapel Lawn on April 14 and the Brownsville Campus Student Union Lawn on April 16.

“Even as Earth Month comes to a close, the conversation around sustainability continues,” she said.

BEYOND EARTH FEST

April’s Earth Month programming blended entertainment and recreation with information panels and volunteer opportunities, including:

• A screening of “Thornforest: Restoring the Wildlands of South Texas” was held on April 15 at the Edinburg Campus Library. The event also featured a panel discussion hosted by Katherine Christoffersen and moderated by OFS Assistant Director, Jeremy San Miguel, alongside panelists from the S. Fish and Wildlife Service, American Forests, UTRGV researchers and community advocates. The discussion highlighted one of America’s most biodiverse ecosystems, the Rio Grande Valley, home to hundreds of bird, butterfly, plant and mammal species with a special focus on the ocelot.
  

  Karla Averanga takes the stage during the ‘Animal Behavior Meets Social Science’ symposium. The session highlighted how natural animal behaviors provide practical, low-impact solutions for modern sustainable agriculture. (UTRGV Photo by Karla Averanga)
   
• A UTRGV baseball game against Southeastern on Saturday, April 18, in honor of Earth Day where OFS presented eight winners with limited-edition Earth Day baseballs.
• “Mariela in the Desert” by Karen Zacarías was performed by UTRGV Theatre. The production conveys themes of renewal and a connection to nature, embodying the spirit of Earth Month.
• The UTRGV community came together for Vaqueros Volunteer Beautification Day on April 25.
• UTRGV’s Brownsville campus hosted the “Animal Behavior Meets Social Science” symposium, where Karla Averanga, multimedia specialist at OFS, presented “More Than Meat: Farming by Chickens,” taking a closer look at how natural animal behaviors can support sustainable agriculture. The event also featured keynote speaker Michele Johnson, Ph.D. from Trinity University, along with researchers from the Gladys Porter Zoo and student presenters diving into animal welfare, conservation and science communication.

Through a diverse mix of education, art and community engagement, Earth Month at UTRGV presented the message that environmental stewardship is not confined to a single day, but a shared, ongoing responsibility.

For more information about Earth Month or to view future sustainability events on campus, visit the OFS website and follow the office on social media platforms.