For a university that has only been around for a little over 50 years, UT San Antonio has rich traditions that convey our story of community and cultural diversity. Below are just a few of the unique traditions and events that unite generations of Roadrunners together in shared experiences.
From Rowdy to Día en la Sombrilla, watch UT San Antonio's most beloved traditions come to life!
The origins of the Roadrunner hand sign have become a mixture of myth and memory, but it's one of the easiest ways for Roadrunners from throughout the ages to show their UT San Antonio spirit.
Next time you hear someone yell 'Birds Up!'' at a game, event or just in passing, toss up the Roadrunner hand sign to show your UT San Antonio pride.
Your thumb is the roadrunner's head and your pinky represents the tail. #BirdsUp
The Sombrilla Fountain is one of the most recognizable landmarks at UT San Antonio. It can also bring you good luck, but only during finals. Touch the fountain wall on finals week, so campus legend goes, and you're on track for a good showing on your exams. Touch the fountain wall on any other time during the year? It's bad luck.
For students in the Health Science Center schools, the White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage that serves to welcome students to healthcare practice and emphasizes the value of humanism as the core of healthcare.
On the third Friday of each March, students from the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine join medical school students from throughout the country to learn where they will complete their medical residencies and begin the next chapter of their careers in medicine.
UT San Antonio has a lot of heart. Thirty-one hearts, to be exact. Hidden in plain sight on the facades of Downtown Campus buildings are 31 bronze hearts sculpted by alumna Diana Rodriguez Gil, MFA '86, for her "Milagros" art project. The hearts, scattered across the grounds, are said to represent the love and dedication that UT San Antonio's community is known for. Tradition also holds that students can rub a heart for a miracle. Can you find them all?
In 1977, UT San Antonio hosted an election to determine a school mascot. Many choices were considered, including the armadillo, stars, eagle, jaguar, roadrunner, puma, toro, and vaquero. The armadillos and stars won the election, knocking the roadrunner from contention. However, a voided election forced a second vote, and the roadrunner staged a surprising comeback. On December 12, 1977, the roadrunner officially became UT San Antonio's mascot.
Four years later, when the university launched its intercollegiate athletics program, the need arose for an energetic roadrunner on the sidelines to join the cheerleaders and pep up the crowd. Antonio Gonzalez III, the first student to wear the Roadrunner Mascot costume, made his debut by 'hatching' from an egg during a basketball pep rally on November 24, 1981. Rowdy's name is believed to have come from the 'rowdy' nature of the university's spirit squad.
When UT San Antonio students graduate, many receive a class ring. The ring, which serves as a symbol of pride and accomplishment, creates a bond between alums and future graduates. It also connects our graduates' accomplishments to the deep and rich history of San Antonio and Texas: since 2012, every UT San Antonio class ring has stayed overnight at the Alamo the night before the ring ceremony. The rings are hand-delivered by the UT San Antonio Alumni Association in a secure box as part of the cherished tradition.
Overlooking the heart of campus is a 6-foot-tall, 11-foot-long, 1,000-pound iron statue of the school's mascot. This iconic sculpture of Rowdy the Roadrunner arrived on campus in September 2013, thanks to the generosity of many supporters. Funded by a student-led donor campaign called 'Bring Rowdy Home', the statue was created by Raymond George (R.G.) Box who studied native roadrunners roaming his property as inspiration.
Fiesta is a major San Antonio tradition - a weeks-long spring celebration of the city's vibrant community. It shouldn't be any surprise that UT San Antonio joins in the event festivities. UT San Antonio is home to Día En La Sombrilla, a daylong fair that takes place in the Sombrilla Plaza and features food, music, medals, and cascarones. UT San Antonio is also a mainstay at nearly every Fiesta parade — keep an eye out for the university's spirited floats.
Homecoming began in 1985 to bring students and alumni together to celebrate their connections to UT San Antonio. Best Fest, the selection of the Spirit of the Roadrunner award recipients (formerly Mr. and Ms. UT San Antonio), and, of course the Homecoming football game are highlights during a full week of activities.
Go, Roadrunners, Go! On to vict'ry with all your might.
Fight, Roadrunners, Fight!
For the Blue and the Orange and the White.
We fight for U-T-S-A
Alma Mater proud and strong.
Win, Roadrunners, Win!
And unite in our battle song.
(Repeat for second verse)
From our hills of oak and cedar
To the Alamo
Voices raised will echo
As, in song, our praises flow
Hail Alma Mater!
Through the years our loyalty will grow
The University of Texas San Antonio
Since UT San Antonio's first graduation celebration in August 1974, mariachis have performed to celebrate these major educational milestones. With origins from Mexico and deep-rooted in the Hispanic culture, mariachi music is often present at important events and celebrations in the Latinx community. With nearly 60% of students identifying as Latino, UT San Antonio celebrates its designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution and embraces the strong presence of the Hispanic culture across its campuses and throughout the City of San Antonio.
