UM-Flint to welcome students back with Winter Maize & Blue Days and MLK Day of Service

University of Michigan-Flint students will kick off the winter 2026 semester with Winter Maize & Blue Days, a series of events designed to help new and returning Wolverines reconnect with campus, explore resources and have fun together in the first weeks of classes. Maize & Blue Days is the university's official welcome program each semester and offers multiple ways for students to build community, whether they commute, live on campus or take hybrid courses.

Winter Maize & Blue Days kick off the semester Jan. 6 at Clint's Cafe with free specialty hot beverages, collectible campfire mugs (while supplies last) and a live ice-carving demonstration in McKinnon Plaza.

From the lively Winter Mgagement Fair—a signature event bringing together student organizations, campus departments and community partners—to recreation, esports, wellness and entertainment activities, Winter Maize & Blue Days showcase the many ways students can engage, recharge and make the most of their UM-Flint experience.

Later in January, the campus community will commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through the annual MLK Day of Service and related events, which have become a longstanding UM-Flint tradition. UM-Flint's commitment to engaged citizenship is reflected in service opportunities inviting students, faculty and staff to support Flint and Genesee County residents through hands-on projects addressing local needs.

Comedy magician set to headline at UM-Flint Theatre

Nationally recognized comedy magician Michael Kent will perform, 6-7:30 p.m., Jan. 8, in the UM-Flint Theatre, offering students an evening of irreverent humor and mind-bending illusions in a high-energy, interactive show.

Kent, known for blending stand-up comedy with interactive magic, has been voted "Entertainer of the Year" by Campus Activities Magazine readers, named "Magician of the Year" by the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities, and appeared on the television show "Penn & Teller: Fool Us." The event is free and open to all UM-Flint students. Organizers encourage students to bring friends, student organization members and classmates as a highlight of Winter Maize & Blue Days.

Signature ways to connect and get involved

As students return to campus and settle into the rhythm of a new semester, Winter Maize & Blue Days provide a lineup of events designed to bring Wolverines together and reenergize the campus community. The Winter Mgagement Fair, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Jan. 7, in the Riverfront Conference Center, will gather student organizations, campus departments and community partners in one location—making it one of the best opportunities of the semester to meet people, ask questions and explore involvement options across UM-Flint. The fair also adds a lively atmosphere with caricature artists, a photo booth, a cash booth where participants can win funds for a student organization and comfort food from Picasso's soup bar. In addition, the Genesee Health Department will host a vaccination clinic on site, offering a convenient way to stay healthy while getting connected.

The week's calendar continues with events that highlight the variety of campus life at UM-Flint. On Jan. 9, students can show their school spirit at the men's ice hockey game against Cleary University at Crystal Fieldhouse, with free admission for students who present their MCard. Esports Open Gaming takes place, noon to 4 p.m., Jan. 12, in the UM-Flint Esports Lab (2401 Riverfront), where students can play popular titles and learn more about UM-Flint Esports. Health-minded students can take advantage of free personal training sessions at the Recreation Center, Jan. 14, and the celebration wraps up with the energetic Silent Disco, Jan. 15, featuring multiple DJ channels and wireless headphones for a shared, immersive experience.

These events add excitement to the early weeks of the semester and provide students with meaningful ways to connect and make the most of their time on campus.

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through service and reflection

MLK Day will begin with the MLK Day Keynote Breakfast, 8:30-10 a.m., Jan. 19, in the Harding Mott University Center Michigan Rooms, featuring UM-Flint alumna Dawn Demps with a program focused on King's vision of education, justice and community. Demps, who graduated from UM-Flint in 2008 with bachelor's degrees in Africana studies and social sciences, is an assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Education. Volunteer opportunities that day include meal packaging with United Way, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at a partner site to be shared after registration; no-sew blanket making, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Michigan Rooms; Crossover Downtown Outreach Ministry 2026, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Crossover; and a blood drive, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Happenings Room—all dedicated to turning "a day off" into "a day on" for service.

Students can view the full Winter Maize & Blue Days schedule and register for events through Campus Connections and the Welcome Programs website. MLK Day event and volunteer opportunity information is available on the More Than A Day site, where students can discover additional ways to stay involved in community engagement throughout the semester.

Winter Maize & Blue Days and MLK events at a glance

• Winter Maize & Blue Days Kickoff, Clint's Cafe & McKinnon Plaza, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Jan. 6.
• Winter Mgagement Fair, Riverfront Conference Center, 3:30–5:30 p.m., Jan. 7.
• Comedy magician Michael Kent, UM-Flint Theatre, 6–7:30 p.m., Jan. 8.
• Men's ice hockey vs. Cleary University, Crystal Fieldhouse, 8–10:30 p.m., Jan. 9.
• Esports Open Gaming, UM-Flint Esports Lab (2401 Riverfront), noon to 4 p.m., Jan. 12.
• Get Your Workout Started: free personal training, Recreation Center, 3–7 p.m., Jan. 14.
• Silent Disco, campus location, 6–9 p.m., Jan. 15.
• MLK Day Keynote Breakfast 2026, UCEN Michigan Rooms, 8:30–10 a.m., Jan. 19.
• MLK Day Service: United Way 2026, partner site, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Jan. 19.
• MLK Day Service: No-Sew Blanket 2026, Michigan Rooms, 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Jan. 19.
• MLK Day Service: Crossover Downtown Outreach Ministry 2026, Crossover, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Jan. 19.
• MLK Day Service: MI Blood 2026, Happenings Room, 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m., Jan. 19.