Annual UTRGV Holiday Card Contest

By Matthew Cavazos

In its 10^th year, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Holiday Card Contest has become a tradition where students artfully capture the spirit of the university during the festive season.

The annual contest encourages students to showcase their creativity by designing a card that embodies their vision of the university during the holidays. This year, winners were chosen for the official cards for the offices of the university president and provost.

Dr. Guy Bailey, UTRGV president, and Dr. Luis H. Zayas, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, reviewed 193 submissions and each selected their top three designs. Both said their decisions were challenging due to the wonderful artistic skills displayed by students this year.

“Our students never cease to inspire me with their creativity, and this year’s Holiday Card Contest is yet another testament to their ingenuity,” Bailey said. “With 193 submissions, each one told a unique story of our university’s festive spirit, making the selection process both challenging and rewarding. I want to thank every participant for their effort and enthusiasm, which have brought this UTRGV tradition to life once again.”

Zayas was elated to take part in his second Holiday Card Contest and continue the annual tradition.

“I am truly amazed by the talent and creativity our students have showcased this year,” Zayas said. “It fills me with pride to see their achievements, and I am honored to have the opportunity to select the winners for this contest.”

The 2024 winners each received UTRGV scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000.

TOP HOLIDAY CARD WINNERS

JANINA BADON, from Harlingen, was awarded first place in the president’s category and received a $1,000 scholarship.

Badon’s card design features a snow globe with bright orange UTRGV letters and palm trees wrapped in lights, all enclosed inside the globe, topped with a cowboy hat donning the UTRGV name on top.

Badon, a marketing major graduating in December, felt inspired to create a card that represent the unique spirit of UTRGV and the Rio Grande Valley as a whole.

“This contest was a meaningful opportunity for me to express my love for our community, share what makes this season so special in our own unique way, and leave behind a piece of my own connection to UTRGV,” she said.

Badon said that UTRGV has provided her with an exceptional education and supportive community, which she wanted to reflect in her design.

“The Valley is where I’ve built meaningful connections, experienced the warmth of its people, and learned to embrace a culture that’s vibrant, rich and full of pride,” Badon said. “UTRGV, as the heart of the community, represents not just academic growth but also the diversity, traditions and spirit that make this place unique.”

SAMIRA GARZA, from McAllen, was awarded first place in the provost’s category and received a $1,000 scholarship. 

Garza’s holiday card features a snow-covered scene with multiple trees decorated with orange and gray ornaments, highlighted by a main tree on the right topped with an illuminated eight-point star.

“I wanted to capture the magic of the holiday season blended with UTRGV pride,” said Garza, a business management major. “My goal was to create a scene that feels both inviting and joyful, where the warmth of the season and our unique campus spirit come together.”

“I felt that a holiday card could be a way to share warmth and celebrate our school pride with everyone, even if we are not together.”

HOLIDAY CARD PRESIDENT RUNNERS-UP

ATENA TAVANGARIFARD, from Tehran, Iran, a president’s runner-up received a $500 scholarship.

Tavangarifard, a finance major, showcased a pair of orange and white boots with cacti scattered across the desert-like background and white stars illuminating the orange sky inside a wreath.

“My card reflects the festive spirit of the holidays, intertwined with the unique cultural beauty of the Valley,” Tavangarifard said. “I saw the contest as a unique opportunity to express creativity and share a message of warmth, unity and joy with the UTRGV community.”

“UTRGV is more than just a university; it’s a home and a family for all of us.”

AMY VILLARREAL, from McAllen, a president’s runner-up received a $500 scholarship. 

Villarreal, a biology major, highlights the unique nature and colors of the Rio Grande Valley in her card. featuring a collection of blooming native flowers in the center, with the white UTRGV letters standing out against a dark green background with traditional banners fluttering above and below.

“This contest was a great opportunity to express holiday cheer through art and be part of a tradition at UTRGV that brings everyone together,” Villarreal said. “It can be hard to remember amidst life’s fast pace, but we thrive in harmony, and I think the Valley’s culture and the holidays are a beautiful representation of that.”

HOLIDAY CARD PROVOST RUNNERS-UP

JOLETTE MARQUEZ, from Port Isabel, a provost’s runner-up received a $500 scholarship. 

Marquez, a nutritional science major, illustrated the mascot riding a horse with the night sky behind them, and a tree with lights lighting up the night sky, and the UTRGV logo resting beneath the bucking horse to reflect the fun that can be had in school.

“I wanted to show the UTRGV landmarks like the Bronc on the Edinburg Campus,” Marquez said. “I also put some sweet bread on the tree to show a little bit of our culture.”

“I wanted to show that UTRGV can be fun and add some holiday spirit to the community.”

CHAE RAE, from Richmond, a provost’s runner-up received a $500 scholarship.

Rae, a doctoral student pursuing her curriculum and instruction degree, had a design that included three hats hung over a burning fireplace in place of stockings with garland resting behind them. Rae explained the hats symbolized the responsibilities in her life, and she is ready to hang up the student hat for the holidays to spend time with family.

“Now that I have a four-year-old, the holiday season is truly magic,” Rae said. “I’m really trying to figure out how to make this so exciting every year. I have made a baker out of my daughter, so we bake cookies, put on pajamas and watch a movie almost every day in December.”

“For me, it’s about being the person that is making the magic rather than experiencing the magic.”

PURCHASING HOLIDAY CARDS

All winning student-designed holiday cards will be available for purchase online and at campus bookstores on both campuses starting Dec. 3.

Card packages are priced at $12 each and contain 12 total cards, with two of each design. All net proceeds will be donated to the UTRGV Student Food Pantry, which provides food assistance to UTRGV students.