Thursday, Aug 28, 2025 • Cristal Gonzalez : Contact

The Maverick Activity Fair and Cookout is one of the most bustling days of the fall semester at The University of Texas at Arlington.

On Wednesday, over 250 organizations set up outside the University Center to the end of the Library Mall. Thousands of Mavericks milled through the booths, connecting with fellow students through shared interests, passions, cultures and areas of study.

Sraavya Yenugapalli, this year’s Mrs. UTA, says getting involved isn’t just about socializing—it also helps students build skills like how to communicate and be leaders – both essential for their future careers.

“Friendships and life-long relationships are a super-important reason to get involved and join an organization,” Yenugapalli said. “Career-wise, it’s an amazing way to get into your field of work and find internship and research opportunities.”

At the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) booth, Thommy Xaysongkham, a junior majoring in software engineering, says his organization’s three pillars—cultural, professional and community—give members a well-rounded experience. Last year, SASE was awarded UTA’s student organization of the year.

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“I would say the community that we foster is why our organization has such a huge impact here on campus,” Xaysongkham said. “As officers, we do the small part of joining people together, but it’s really our members that do most of the work to help and encourage each other. They build their own communities within our organization.”

At the Amine Club, Tracy Phan, co-president and an English and psychology double major, said building a community around people with shared interests can help make students feel at home.

“The Anime Club is a club that encourages people who are interested in anime to get out of their comfort zone, explore new anime they've never watched before, and meet other people who are also interested in anime,” Phan said. “Building a community is especially important when you're completely new to campus and going to college for the first time.”

Christian Hernandez, president of La Sociedad Hispanica, said his organization is dedicated to integrating culture and academics. One mission is partnering with other UTA student organizations to bring cultural events and celebrations to campus.

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“One of the largest events we partner to host is El Baile. It’s a huge event that brings friends and family together and we enjoy good food and good music,” Hernandez said. “We believe partnering with other organizations for events like this creates a lot of unity among our members and creates a larger community.”

The Division of Student Affairs had plenty to offer during the Maverick Activity Fair and Cookout. After students made their way through the campus organization booths, games, a bounce house, mechanical bull riding, caricature artists and prize giveaways greeted Mavericks in the Library Mall and Brazos Park.

To learn more about one of UT Arlington’s 355-plus student organizations, events and engagement opportunities around campus, visit https://mavengage.uta.edu/organizations.

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 41,000, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.