Centenary Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Campus Fesitivites

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. EOP and the Multicultural club will host a variety of events to celebrate with the Centenary campus.

September 15 marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. Yes, it is technically not a month in the traditional sense, but the story behind that is rather interesting.

Hispanic Heritage Month finds its origins as Hispanic Heritage Week, way back in the 60’s, to celebrate the growing Latin population in the country. This celebration was eventually extended to become the month-long holiday that it is today. 

Why does it span across two months you ask? That was a very deliberate choice. The holiday was formatted this way in order for the celebration to coincide with as many independence holidays for numerous Latin American countries as possible such as Mexico, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. 

This year marks the 10 year anniversary for the Fiesta. “For the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), hosting a Fiesta during Hispanic Heritage Month is a deeply meaningful way to celebrate the rich cultural heritage, resilience, and accomplishments of Hispanic and Latino communities—many of whom are represented within our own EOP family,” said Eunice Boyd, associate director of EOP. 

EOP brought a handful of events to campus to look forward to, such as Dialogue and Deeds on September 22 at 7 p.m. in the Multicultural Center. This round of Dialogue and Deeds, hosted by Eric Young and Amanda Lorenzo, touched on the topic of Hispanic Heritage and what it means to members of the community. Anyone was welcome to drop by and join the discussion, regardless of if they were a part of the Hispanic Community, to show their appreciation for the culture. 

On Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. the Multicultural Club hosted a salsa dancing workshop at the Lackland Dance Studio. Students and faculty alike came to learn this iconic dance from Diana Alzate, club advisor and co-founder, in preparation for the Fiesta’s dance floor.

Alzate led the two-hour class and opened with a brief overview of Salsa’s origins. “Rooted in the rhythms brought by enslaved Africans to the Caribbean, Salsa later fused with Spanish musical traditions, emerging in Cuba and Puerto Rico during the late 19th and early 20th centuries,” said Alzate. “Today, it thrives across Latin America, especially in countries such as Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic.”

Participants began with the basic forward-and-back step, gradually building into side steps, diagonal movements, and turns. Students and staff paired up to practice the steps together, dancing to classic hits like “Tu Con El” by Frankie Ruiz and crowd favorites by Marc Anthony, including “Valió la Pena.” The energy in the room was contagious, and everyone left excited to show off their new moves at the upcoming LatinX Fiesta. 

Last but not least, is the main event itself. As per tradition, EOP hosted their Fiesta, a lively event to celebrate and embrace the culture. If you wanted to enjoy some authentic cuisine, Latin music played by a DJ, and dance the night away, then the second floor of the Ferry building on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 8-11 p.m. was the place for you.

“Last year’s Fiesta was my first since I am a transfer student and it was very fun! I got closer with some people and met new people,” said Anais Peralta, first year leader and resident assistant. 

“EOP exists to support and uplift students from historically underserved backgrounds, and this celebration aligns perfectly with our mission,” said Boyd. “By uplifting diverse voices and experiences, we strengthen our commitment to educational equity, student empowerment, and community building. This celebration is not just an event; it’s a reflection of who we are and what we stand for.”

If you missed any of these events this year, there’s no need to worry; there is one more event scheduled.

The Multicultural Club will host a movie night in the Ferry Recital Hall on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. with an TBD movie, so try to catch it as one of the closing events for Hispanic Heritage Month.