Visitors to the El Paso International Airport can now see UTEP’s historical significance and Bhutanese architecture while waiting for a flight or grabbing a cup of joe.
An exhibit commemorating UTEP’s 100 years was unveiled Friday at the airport, tracking the university’s history back to 1914.
The exhibit includes three miniature Bhutanese-style temple replicas. The models will be up for nine months to honor the centennial celebration.
“We’ve said all along that UTEP is El Paso’s university,” Diana Natalicio, UTEP president, said at the unveiling. “As we thought about places that might be able to reach the audiences of El Paso, the airport immediately came to mind.”
University administrators felt the airport was the right choice for the exhibit because of the visibility it would provide. Nearly 3 million travelers pass through the El Paso International Airport every year.
“We learned that the airport was celebrating a special birthday, its 85th birthday, so we tried to have something here and followed through and I think it will provide people with information about the university for travelers,” Natalicio said.
There’s no need to go through TSA to see the exhibit. It is located in the airport lobby between check in and baggage claim.
Luis Barrio may be reached at [email protected]
