Purdue University Northwest (PNW) held its annual Hispanic Heritage Festival on Sept. 22, a main highlight of the university’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.
The family-friendly event welcomed both the campus and local communities to celebrate Latino cultures and the diaspora through performances, food, vendors and more.
Iris E. Sanchez, director of Hispanic-Serving Institution Initiatives, and Christina Maldonado, Parent, Community and Early Education Liaison, worked together with a committee of students, faculty and staff members to organize the event.
"It creates a great sense of belonging for our students and helps them identify with our culture," Sanchez said. "For example, the music is varied — we have everything from Caribbean beats to Mexican music to a salsa performance. It's just like our students."
One of Maldonado's favorite parts of the event is the music, as it allows her to appreciate the atmosphere and have fun with everyone attending. Live bands and other performers were there to keep the energy high throughout the celebration.
"I love our Hispanic music as I enjoy all types of music," Maldonado said. "Listening to the live bands and watching the performers is one of my favorite parts of the event. I'm especially excited for the dancers as they will probably be one of my highlights!"
Many students volunteered to help at the event, assisting with booth setup, decorations and various tasks to ensure everything ran smoothly.
"We have a lot of students volunteering in different aspects of this event, whether it's hosting tables, face painting, or helping with setup and cleanup," Maldonado said. "Students are a big part of the event's success, and they enjoy engaging with the community."
This event created incredible engagement with students, featuring various organizations promoting their clubs. There were also local vendors on-site for students, staff and community members to shop from.
From Sept. 9 to Sept. 13, PNW celebrated Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, featuring several events, including panels and performances. PNW in spring 2024 earned official designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and has an undergraduate population with more than 25% of students that self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.
"We had an outdoor celebration featuring a food truck, music and a special performance by a Mexican rope trick performer," Sanchez said. "On Sept. 16, we celebrated El Grito, which not only highlights Mexican independence but also the independence of many Central American countries, like Guatemala and Nicaragua. We had a Mariachi singer, Aztec dancers, food, and a piñata. It was a fantastic event that students always look forward to. This week, we also have Shrek en Español and salsa dance lessons coming up.”
Sanchez is excited about the success of the annual Hispanic Heritage Fest and the community's participation. She is eager to see the turnout for the remaining activities throughout the rest of the month.
"Our PNW community is incredibly supportive of Hispanic Heritage Month," Sanchez said. "Everyone on campus is excited and eager to collaborate on these events. We love having the community come to our campus to experience and share in the richness of our culture."
Maldonado feels the same way. She shares Sanchez's excitement and looks forward to the continued engagement throughout the month.
"I'm proud to be part of an institution that celebrates our Hispanic heritage and invites community members to engage with us," Maldonado said. "It's important for us to share in the pride we feel for our heritage and culture."
For more information about Hispanic Heritage Month events at PNW, please visit pnw.edu/hhm.
