UTEP SECC Dunk Tank Video Game Creates Virtual Fun

Last Updated on October 27, 2020 at 12:00 AM

Originally published October 27, 2020

By Elizabeth Ashby

UTEP Communications

For the past eight years, faculty and staff from The University of Texas at El Paso who give to the annual State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) have donated thousands of dollars to local and regional charities. The SECC planning committee often coordinates activities such as soccer goal shootouts and volleyball tournaments to celebrate the contributions and incentivize participation.

In 2019, employees who donated were eligible to participate in a dunking booth in Centennial Plaza with campus leaders.

The community can’t physically gather to celebrate the campaign this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but SECC organizers wanted the fun to continue in a virtual setting. As a result, they launched a dunking booth video game on the SECC website.

Players can virtually dunk campus leaders, including President Heather Wilson, Provost John Weibe, Athletics Director Jim Senter, Vice President for Student Affairs Gary Edens, and mascot Paydirt Pete.

“We can’t gather on campus to celebrate the achievements of UTEP’s faculty and staff who donated to the campaign, but we wanted to create a fun activity for employees,” said 2020-21 SECC Committee Chair Nicole Aguilar. “We hope that in these challenging times, this game puts a smile on our employees’ faces and drives people to our website, where they can see a list of organizations taking donations and fill out a form to make their donation.”

This year's campaign, titled “UTEP Gives - Making a Difference Together,” runs through Oct. 31. The goal is to surpass $110,000 in donations through 100% participation from UTEP employees. 

“Many of us are not on campus, but so far in the campaign, we’ve been encouraged by our dedicated staff and faculty,” said Marc Cox, Ph.D., SECC Committee vice chair. “With the hardships facing the region during the COVID-19 outbreak, the El Paso region needs our assistance more than ever.” 

Play the game at utep.edu/secc. 

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