UTEP Begins Fall 2025 with Two Weeks of Exciting Events
Miner Welcome will offer students a taste of the best of UTEP
El Paso, Texas (Aug. 21, 2025) – UTEP will greet new and returning students this Fall semester with Miner Welcome, a two-week series of student-driven events and celebrations. The long-running tradition aims to foster a sense of belonging and spark interest among students to get involved in the campus culture.
Miner Welcome begins with Move-In Day on Aug. 21 for those living in the University’s three on-campus residence halls and will end with the 35th annual Minerpalooza on Sept. 5.
“Miner Welcome is about more than just events - it’s about creating opportunities for students to connect with one another and with our University,” said Cynthia Aguilar, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “When students feel a true sense of belonging, they’re more likely to thrive academically and personally. These traditions help set the tone for a successful semester and remind our students that they are an essential part of the Miner family.”
One of the highlights of this year’s Miner Welcome will take place on the first day of the fall semester. The 5th annual Texas Western Gold Rush is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on Aug. 25 at Centennial Plaza. The event will include a live concert, giveaways, fireworks and special guests.
Minerpalooza, on September 5 at 6 p.m. in Centennial Plaza, will serve as the capstone to this year’s Miner Welcome. The event will feature games and activities hosted by student organizations and a live music lineup that includes Battle of the Bands contestants and various other artists. Pete’s Playground, a dedicated kids’ area will also be part of the experience, as well as food trucks and other vendors. For those over the age of 21, there will be areas to purchase wine and beer. Admission is free and open to the public. More information is available at utep.edu/minerpalooza.
Here are a few other highlights from the first two weeks of the new semester:
Friday, Aug. 22, Late Night at the Rec: Students, alumni and guests will have the opportunity to stay and play at the Student Recreation Center until midnight. Games such as laser tag, a neon pool party, extreme archery and much more will begin at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 24, Welcome Back BBQ Bash: The Welcome Back BBQ Bash, hosted by Housing and Residence Life, is the largest fall event for campus residents, featuring free food, music and games to foster community and connection.
Wednesday, Aug. 27 and Thursday, Aug. 28, Engage & Thrive Fair: A two-day fair where various health student and institutional organizations inform and help students get involved. Several other student organizations will attend for new and returning students to interact with and join.
To see the complete Miner Welcome schedule, visit www.utep.edu/student-affairs/minerwelcome/
About The University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 25,000 students are Hispanic, and more than half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 171 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.
Last Updated on August 21, 2025 at 12:00 AM | Originally published August 21, 2025
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
