CAMPUS: Discover TAMIU brings community to campus
By Dilean Mendez
Bridge Staff Intern
Published Tuesday, March 24, 2026
The many interactive booths of Saturday’s Discover TAMIU included robotics with the School of Engineering and slime with Advising and Retention. Families, students and community members gathered at Texas A&M International University on March 21 for the annual open house designed to showcase academic programs, student organizations and campus life.
TAMIU freshman Luis Maldonado, left, a student worker representing the Office of Recruitment, plays a color matching game at Discover TAMIU in front of the Student Center on March 21, 2026.
The free event invited attendees of all ages to explore, participate in activities and get a sense for what campus life is like. Throughout the event, students from local schools walked around campus exploring a variety of booths and learning activities. Among them were fourth graders from Kazen Elementary School, who attended as part of their school field trip and experienced the campus environment firsthand. For many, the visit made them curious about their future.
“It was a field trip, but it’s been really interesting because there’s a lot of cool things, and I’m learning a lot of new things. I feel like I would want to come here [to TAMIU] in the future,” fourth grader Alessandra said.
The event not only introduced younger students to college life, but also encouraged reflection and personal growth through the activities presented.
“Every mistake comes out to good efforts,” fourth grader Camila added.
Across campus, various departments and programs hosted booths aimed at informing visitors while keeping them engaged. The Office of Compliance, for example, created an interactive trivia activity centered around TAMIU knowledge and general topics.
“We’re doing TAMIU trivia,” TAMIU Compliance Coordinator II Rolando Tijerina said. “We’re the Office of Compliance.”
By incorporating games and varied questions, the booth effectively engaged both younger students and those with a stronger familiarity with the University.
“I think it helps provide information,” Tijerina said. “We have different questions at our booth related to TAMIU—just general stuff. Some are open-ended, like what kids want to do when they grow up, and others are fun, like the animals on campus or what the TAMIU mascot is. It depends on their knowledge level, whether they’re elementary students or more familiar with the University.”
Other booths, which represented student organizations, had attendees stop by, ask questions and take part in activities. The 21st Century Spanish Club, or “Club de Español Siglo XXI,” offered a bookmark-making activity while sharing information about the organization.
“We are trying to involve students in the community and get them in touch with the language [Spanish] by making bookmarks,” club member Alex Tejeda said.
By participating in events like Discover TAMIU, organizations can connect with a broader audience and highlight their role within the University.
“People from all around the city—and even the Valley—can get to know what we do at TAMIU as organizations, departments and as a school,” he said.
The event wasn’t just about touring campus. Discover TAMIU is a place for connection, exploration and inspiration. For many attendees, the event gave them a first look into college life and the opportunities that come with it, leaving a lasting impression on future students and the community alike.
