During D-Week in 2016, Utah Tech University introduced the Trailblazer identity and a new mascot, Brooks the Bison.
Every spring semester, Utah Tech celebrates its mascot with Brooks’ Birthday Carnival event. This year, the event was held April 10, with the Utah Tech Student Association partnering with the Utah Tech Alumni Association to plan and run the event.
“It’s both a celebration of Brooks and a way to highlight school spirit, tradition and campus connection,” said UTSA President Shellsea Ramirez, a senior individualized studies major from St. George.
This year, hundreds of students and community members gathered at the Encampment Mall, in the middle of campus, at 6 p.m. The event followed the Great Race, one of Utah Tech’s oldest traditions that features 10-participant teams in a race around campus.
The carnival featured a variety of games, including darts, Skee-Ball and ring toss, as well as other activities such as face painting, balloon animals and birthday hat decorating. Free food was available to all attendees, including hot dogs, cupcakes and cotton candy.
However, the fan favorite snack of the day was the slushies, which had a consistent line throughout the event. “I love hanging out with my friends, and I love the slushies,” said Logan Swierski, a senior management major from Las Vegas.
Outside of celebrating Brooks, one emphasis UTSA and the Alumni Association had for the event was to create an inclusive environment.
“It brings together multiple parts of the Utah Tech community,” Ramirez said. “It creates a space where students, alumni and community members can all come together, celebrate and engage with campus in a fun and memorable way during D-Week.”
Participants acknowledged the importance of inclusivity at Utah Tech events. “We have a lot of non-traditional students, some who are parents and even people who are grandparents,” said Veronika Wilhelm, a sophomore accounting major from Semey, Kazakhstan. “It’s really important that they have events that they can be a part of that aren’t just for college kids.”
Some attendees consider events like the festival to be a good opportunity for making friends. “A lot of people come here and don’t have connections, and want that sense of belonging,” Swierski said. “It’s always good for students, especially out-of-state students, to connect with the community.”
The event emphasized inclusivity for people of all ages, and parents were encouraged to bring their children. Some attendees mentioned the significance of campus events, like Brooks Birthday’ Carnival, to the local community.
“Utah Tech does an amazing job at their community events,” said Lynny Jones, St. George native and community member. “It’s been a really cool part of living so close to campus… we have really benefited from it, and our kids love coming to all the events.”
“Events like this really reflect what Utah Tech is all about,” Ramirez said. “Connection, tradition and creating meaningful experiences for our students and community… It’s a great example of how we continue to build school spirit while honoring where we’ve come from.”
