Article
September 11, 2026
Written by Student Writer Austin Watts
A Seat at the Table: University Program Council Connects Campus to the Greeley Community
UNC’s University Program Council is bridging campus and community, giving students a voice in city planning while hosting the inaugural Bear Bash on Sept. 18.
On Friday, Sept. 18 at 4 p.m., the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), the Greeley Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the City of Greeley and the WeldWalls Mural Festival are hosting the inaugural Bear Bash on the Skinner Music Library lawn to celebrate the completion of the 16th Street Enhancement Project.
The free public event will feature performances by the UNC Pride of the Rockies Marching Band and UNC Cheer, remarks from city leaders, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a headlining set by Denver indie-pop band Neon the Bishop. Attendees can also explore the revitalized corridor during the festival’s “Art Night Out,” which highlights eight live murals in progress, artist talkbacks, local art sales and exclusive open-house specials from 16th Street businesses.
UNC students took a lead role in planning the inaugural celebration. Members of UNC’s University Program Council (UPC) — a student-run and student-fee-funded organization that plans campus entertainment, activities and events — have been an integral part of the event’s formulation, collaborating closely with the city, the DDA and WeldWalls organizers. UPC members look forward to providing engaging activities geared toward students, both outside Skinner Music Library and inside local businesses.
UPC is proud to be a part of UNC’s thriving community of student organizations and recognizes the responsibility that comes with representing that community when coordinating with other stakeholders to develop events like Bear Fest.
Grayden Pustilnik
Kayden Bowyer
Jay Johnson
“It’s important that there’s a student voice, and UPC is able to provide that in a way that is really effective,” said UPC Copresident and Student Government Association Director of Student Affairs Grayden Pustilnik.
UPC members are no strangers to developing engaging events with strong municipal partnerships. UPC Copresident Kayden Bowyer noted that many of the stakeholders involved in this fall’s Bear Bash also worked on Bear Fest, one of UPC’s largest annual events. Last spring was the first time that event was also held in downtown Greeley.
As with all collaborations between UPC and Downtown Greeley, one major goal of Bear Bash is to strengthen the ties between UNC students and downtown businesses.
On 16th Street specifically, many businesses reported being negatively impacted by the construction of the 16th Street Enhancement Project and are hoping that its conclusion will bring more students through their doors.
For Bowyer, that drive to bridge campus and community has reshaped her entire college experience. Through her work with UPC, she has developed personal relationships with downtown business owners and built a lasting network across Greeley.
She credits UPC’s student team and advising directors with fostering an environment that fundamentally changed who she is as a leader — a personal transformation she hopes to pass along to her peers.
The 16th Street Enhancement Project widened the sidewalks, improved parking and installed two roundabouts to slow down traffic for pedestrian safety.
“I want students to want to come back, want to explore all of Greeley and feel connected to the city,” she said. “There’s more than just UNC in Greeley, and there are businesses that love [the students] and want to support them.”
For the members of UPC, advocating for student connection at events like Bear Bash comes from personal experience. Before they were planning city-wide celebrations, they were students searching for their own place on campus.
“As a freshman, I came in and really did not get out very much,” said Bowyer. “I stumbled upon UPC while job hunting and ended up finding my community and the exact people that I wanted to be around: the ones that want to uplift other students in their journey throughout UNC.”
For UPC Lead Graphic Designer Jay Johnson, fostering a sense of belonging is an ongoing process that requires intentional effort, especially as students navigate the transition into college.
Recognizing that vibrant, accessible communities rely on dedicated builders to maintain and nurture those spaces, Johnson joined the organization to do just that. By taking on the groundwork of planning and hosting campus events, Johnson aims to create an environment for fellow students where they can simply show up, participate and feel an immediate sense of connection waiting for them.
That active community creation is precisely what transformed the college experience for Pustilnik. While he originally viewed UNC as a “Goldilocks school” that was ideal in size, location and balance, joining UPC completely reshaped that perspective.
“I can walk from North Hall to the University Center and see people I know, but also see people I don’t know, which is really cool,” Pustilnik said. “It’s not a ‘Goldilocks’ school for me anymore. I know everybody now because of UPC, and I just love that.”
Bear Bash is just one of many incredible events that UPC has planned for both UNC students and the community this year. From campus-wide traditions like Homecoming Week to mid-semester trivia nights, craft workshops and massive celebrations like Bear Fest, UPC remains dedicated to creating accessible, engaging spaces for all UNC students one event at a time.
“Seeing people find a place genuinely warms my heart and fills me with joy,” Pustilnik said. “I just love it so much.”
