Celebrating UTA Pride: A Salute to Veterans, Entrepreneurs and Mavericks

As you spend time in Downtown Arlington this week, you’ll see a big white, orange and blue banner stretched across Abram St. You’ll probably also notice other banners, balloons, signs, crepe paper and other spirited decorations as you stop by your favorite Downtown restaurants or shops.

That's because it's Maverick Homecoming Week!

This week is also Global Entrepreneurship Week, an international effort to recognize the power of entrepreneurial activity by inspiring, connecting and engaging local communities of innovators, creatives, entrepreneurs, investors, educators and students.

Finally, Thursday. Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, a day to remember and thank those who have honored our country through their military service.

While it’s a coincidence that Veteran’s Day, Global Entrepreneurship Week, and Homecoming fall in the same week in 2021, here in Downtown Arlington we can immediately see an important interconnection between the three: The University of Texas at Arlington. 

Serving and Honoring UTA Veterans   

UT Arlington has been our city’s hometown university since 1895, when it originally opened as Arlington College and soon after became Carlisle Military Academy. This early association with military training, education and veteran’s services has evolved over the decades, ultimately becoming one of the University’s many notable strengths. For several years, Military Times has ranked UTA the #1 college in the country on their "Best for Vets” list. 

Because of pride in UTA’s martial past shared by so many alumni and students, the Maverick Veterans’ Voices (Mav Vets) project was launched in 2012 and has grown steadily ever since. In partnership with the UTA Department of History, the Central Library, and the College of Liberal Arts, Mav Vets is an oral history project dedicated to preserving the testimony of generations of UTA veterans and their families. What a meaningful way to commemorate Veterans Day by listening to their stories. Click here to listen to Mav Vet interviews.

UTA's Entrepreneurial Culture   

UT Arlington has a regional economic impact of $17.1 billion, but the total influence of the university is even greater because of its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship. UTA supports entrepreneurism by bringing together students, stakeholders and researchers and helping them commercialize new technologies and pioneer new companies. This work is accomplished through UTA centers and programs like the Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Innovation, the College of Business Mav Pitch start-up competition, EpIC Mavs in partnership with TechFW, and the Mavs 100 awards ceremony presented in partnership with the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce.

You can begin creating connections with several of these UTA innovators and experts by participating in Global Entrepreneurship Week 2021. Take part in their free virtual sessions by clicking here.

Downtown Arlington and UTA   

In countless ways, Downtown Arlington has been and will always be energized by the UT Arlington community. When you patronize a business in Downtown, chances are that a UTA alumnus is the entrepreneur behind it, including Randy Ford (J. Gilligan’s), Brandon Hurtado (Hurtado Barbecue and Hayter’s), and Greg Gardner (Grease Monkey and Cartel Taco Shop). So this Homecoming Week – and especially on game day, which is Saturday, Nov. 13 – wear your UTA blue and orange proudly, and give a shout out to your favorite Mavericks. Click here for the UTA Homecoming schedule and tickets. 

Go Mavs! 
 

Photo from UTA online photo gallery.