UPR showcases booth at Comic Con to attract students
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
By The Star Staff
In a groundbreaking move, the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) made its debut at the Comic Con convention, a vibrant pop culture extravaganza that drew thousands of comic book enthusiasts and vendors over the weekend.
The event provided the perfect backdrop for UPR to capture the attention of prospective students as part of an effort to raise dwindling admission numbers.
Amidst a bustling crowd adorned in colorful costumes of beloved comic book characters, UPR showcased an engaging booth featuring several innovative attractions. Among them was a robot named Yuyo, designed to intrigue visitors and highlight the university’s focus on technology. Additionally, a virtual reality experience allowed participants to don special glasses and immerse themselves in a beautifully designed home, complete with the presence of animated comic book characters.
To top it off, a 3-D printing machine was diligently crafting tiny Pokémon figures, demonstrating the fusion of creativity and technology.
Pedro J. Rivera Vázquez, the director of student recruitment for UPR’s central administration, expressed the significance of the university’s participation at the convention, which typically draws over 50,000 attendees, predominantly young students.
“We want to be where the students are, and we decided to insert ourselves into this activity,” he said, emphasizing the university’s commitment to engaging future scholars.
Throughout the three-day event, UPR organized various activities designed to entertain and inform. Telecommunications students from UPR-Arecibo produced a podcast on-site, capturing the insights and experiences of attendees. Meanwhile, students from UPR’s Theater Department delighted youngsters by applying whimsical makeup, transforming them into their favorite characters. The Interior Design Department, part of UPR-Carolina’s Graphic Design Department, took innovation a step further with the virtual reality presentation, enticing visitors to explore environments conceptualized by the students.
In addition to those attractions, UPR’s Medical Sciences Campus and the UPR-Bayamón campus made their presence felt, the latter featuring a well-received presentation centered around cowboys and cowgirls, appealing to the adventurous spirit of the crowd.
Rivera Vázquez noted that while admissions for UPR remain open, the Medical Sciences program is not accepting students.
John Rivas, the head of the Graphic Design Department, said many students expressed interest, including those pursuing graduate studies, eager to learn more about UPR’s offerings.
Eliana Valenzuela, a robotics professor at UPR-Arecibo, proudly showcased Yuyo, a robot arm ingeniously designed by students Gabriela Meléndez and Jiullian Lee. The creation aims to foster a connection between students and the rapidly evolving realm of human-machine interaction. Valenzuela pointed out the critical need for students, especially women, in the field of computation. She noted that the computer sciences degree at UPR-Arecibo caters to the pharmaceutical industry, whereas the Rio Piedras department focuses on vital areas such as cybersecurity.
“These fields offer competitive salaries,” she said, highlighting the promising future for graduates.
As Lee, a senior in her final year, prepared for her impending job in the security sector, Meléndez expressed her ambition to pursue graduate studies and delve into coding. The two students remarked on the often lonely experience of being among the few women in their classes, underscoring the importance of representation in tech fields.