T H A N K Y O U, UHD p a r a d e v o l u n t e e r s !
We braved the cold and the dark in the early morning hours at Houston City Hall, but what a great day it was for UHD and our beloved mascot – Ed-UGator. He soared and so did we.
THANK YOU doesn’t seem quite enough to say to the students and staff who volunteered for this parade. Your willingness – and cheerfulness – to be a member of Year Three of UHD at the H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade is remarkable and highly noteworthy. I hope you enjoyed the experience.
On the following pages are some of the best pictures from that sunny, chilly day. I took them with my iPhone and added in the good work of photographer Sam Negrete.
Thank you to our Super Volunteers: Caroline Dixon, Juan Melendrez, Kemberly Osorto, Aaron Ceballos and Ashley Guillory, for going the extra mile throughout the day. Thank you UHD Gatorettes, UHD Cheerleaders, the Student Government Association officers and the UHD Women’s Volleyball team for your excellent street team and crowd-engagement efforts.
A huge thank you to the UHD Alumni Drumline, which set the tone for us and had the crowd rocking. Thank you, University Relations team members Michael Manuel and Toye Simmons for UHD banner and giveaway support. And last but not least: thank you to Adrian Bermudez, UHD Staff Council President, for being a great event co-pilot. You are a person of high integrity who does not disappoint.
As a side note: Check-in data shows the vast majority of you were first-time volunteers. We also saw a few repeat | second-time walkers.
And then there’s Travis Graff, a UHD student who has been walking Ed-UGator for all three years our mascot has been in the parade. This is simply amazing. Your dedication and commitment to this effort are things of beauty, Travis. You ARE Gator Grit.
See you next year!
Debra McGaughey
AVP, University Relations mcgaugheyd@uhd.edu | 713.226.5519
Your thoughts and ideas to improve the UHD parade experience are welcomed. Email me at mcgaugheyd@uhd.edu.
THANK YOU!