Mavericks Unite at UTA’s Annual Thanksgiving Dinner
Published on November 26, 2025
By Cristal Gonzales, UTA Media Relations
One way The University of Texas at Arlington connects Mavericks is through food. There’s Waffleopolis during Maverick Stampede to kick off the new school year, the Chili Cook-off during homecoming and the growing Thanksgiving Dinner that brings hundreds of students, faculty and staff together to share traditions and what they’re grateful for.
This year’s Thanksgiving Dinner, Maverick Dining and Catering prepared 600 pounds of turkey and 400 pounds of ham. All the traditional fixings were laid out, along with an assortment of charcuterie and a mélange of pies and deserts—there was something for everyone to enjoy.
Chief Executive Chef Tyler Albers said prep for the dinner began on Saturday. His team of about 14 people then spent all day Monday and Tuesday cooking and baking the massive spread.
“It can be intimidating preparing a meal for this many people, but it’s a good opportunity for us to come together as a team, make fun things and enjoy what we’re making,” Albers said. “We’re all collaborating, instead of following exact recipes— we’re having fun with it.”
The tradition started back in 2017 as an annual potluck organized by the Office of International Education to introduce international and study-abroad students to the American Thanksgiving experience. The first dinner hosted only about a dozen people.
Since then, the dinner has grown exponentially and become a beloved tradition for the Maverick community. In recent years, the dinner has served more than 700 people.
On Tuesday, students, faculty and staff came together with their teams, their families and loved ones. All across Connections Café, Mavericks feasted, reflected on what they’re grateful for and came together as the fall semester nears its end.
“We do a lot of events in my department, and I can genuinely say this is my favorite of the year,” said Adam Sichta, UTA’s director of global engagement. “It’s just such an awesome sense of community to see people together, relaxing, having fun. There’s everyone from President Cowley to our first-year students here—just interacting, coming together as a community and having fun.”
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.