UTSA celebrates iron roadrunner statue, branded street signs with fanfare
Top photo: Students touch the roadrunner statue for good luck.
Middle photo: Statue artist R.G. Box stands next to his creation.
Bottom photo: At the sign unveiling are (from left) Ms. UTSA Rebecca Smith, Rowdy, President Ricardo Romo and Mr. UTSA and SGA President Zack Dunn.
(Top photos by Mark McClendon; Bottom photo by Patrick Dunn)
Top photo: Students touch the roadrunner statue for good luck.
Middle photo: Statue artist R.G. Box stands next to his creation.
Bottom photo: At the sign unveiling are (from left) Ms. UTSA Rebecca Smith, Rowdy, President Ricardo Romo and Mr. UTSA and SGA President Zack Dunn.
(Top photos by Mark McClendon; Bottom photo by Patrick Dunn)
Share this Story(Aug. 28, 2014) -- The UTSA Main Campus Central Plaza was covered with orange, white and blue confetti yesterday as students, faculty and staff turned out to celebrate the new permanent home of their six-foot-tall, 1,000-pound iron roadrunner statue.
Prior to the dedication, the UTSA Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band, UTSA cheerleaders and Rowdy energized the crowd with performances at the historic event.
UTSA President Ricardo Romo, Student Government Association (SGA) President/Mr. UTSA Zack Dunn and Ms. UTSA Rebecca Smith gave welcoming remarks. Romo thanked the SGA and Sigma Pi Fraternity for showing great student leadership in 2010 by coming together and exploring ways to boost school spirit on campus. The students sought to commission UTSA's first-ever roadrunner statue and create a new university tradition.
"I am proud to be your president," said Romo. "This roadrunner statue will represent you, your pride and your future."
Lubbock artist R.G. Box, who had conversations about the statue with UTSA Associate Athletic Director Jim Goodman, spent 1,000 hours to complete the artwork.
A fundraising campaign, Bring Rowdy Home, inspired by students and coordinated by the UTSA Office of Annual Giving, raised more than $25,000 in one week. Contributions to support the campaign came from UTSA students, faculty, staff, alumni and benefactors from across the country.
Box thanked the students for the nice comments about his creation and autographed posters of the roadrunner statue that has become the new symbol of pride for UTSA.
Following the statue dedication, UTSA students, faculty and staff gathered for the President's BBQ, an annual tradition on the Convocation Center east lawn.
At the barbecue, UTSA and the City of San Antonio dedicated UTSA-themed street signs. The dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony included Romo, Dunn, Smith, Councilman Ron Nirenberg, Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales and other city leaders.
Ninety-four UTSA-branded street signs that include the Rowdyhead are currently under installation on public UTSA Main Campus and Downtown Campus streets and perimeters and at UTSA's Park West Athletics Complex at Loop 1604 and Hausman Road. Once installed, they will help residents and visitors recognize that they are in the vicinity of a UTSA campus, marking the UTSA Gateway District.
Yesterday's dedications were two in a series of events during UTSA Roadrunner Days. The events, which run through Aug. 29, give UTSA students the opportunity to participate in time-honored traditions and connect with the campus community.
------------------------------
For more information and the event schedule, visit the UTSA Roadrunner Days website.
Connect online with UTSA on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Share your Roadrunner Days experiences using hashtag #UTSARRDAYS.
Events
The UTSA Office of Undergraduate is proud to celebrate National Undergraduate Research with an annual event sponsored by the (OUR) featuring students will showcase undergraduate student research and creative endeavors from all disciplines across campus.
Various LocationsDía en la Sombrilla, formerly Fiesta UTSA, is a festival hosted each spring as a part of Fiesta® San Antonio events. Sponsored by Roadrunner Productions, the event features music, food, confetti, games, event t-shirts, and more.
Sombrilla Plaza and Central Plaza, Main CampusFiesta Arts Fair features contemporary art from more than 100 artists from across the U.S., Fiesta favorite foods, drinks, live music by local and regional performers, and a Young Artists Garden providing opportunities for budding artists to learn, explore and express their creativity.
UTSA Southwest CampusJoin the PEACE Center and Wellbeing Services for Denim Day, a day of learning about the importance of consent and why we wear denim on the last Wednesday of the month each April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Stop by our Denim Day display to take a photo in front of our Denim Wall, spin the "Is It Consent?" Wheel, and get a Concha or goodie.
Student Union Window Lounge, Main CampusLearn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.
Virtual EventThis event is to achnowlege the graduating seniors and induct the new cohart of scholars to our program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140,) Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome
