By Brianna Wallen
News Editor
Graduate Intern Gian Melendez of the Multicultural Center, MCC, who is a first-generation Puerto Rican, said that he has a deep connection to the annual Hispanic Heritage Month, held from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
“It means everything,” Melendez said. “It’s a time for us Hispanics to really just kind of come out and embrace where we come from.”
The celebration commemorates and celebrates the rich and diverse histories, cultures, languages, customs and contributions of people whose ancestors originated in Hispanic nations.
During this celebration, the university’s students, staff and faculty can immerse themselves in a wide array of cultures and traditions through events to honor the vibrant and rich culture of Latino culture that is deeply rooted on campus.
Melendez gives the inside scoop on upcoming events where he expressed that students can “rep their flag,” and create crafts, as he believes it can “bring back memories from home.”
The annual celebration was launched on Sept. 16 with the Hispanic Heritage Kickoff.
The lively event displayed all 33 flags from Hispanic countries and highlighted information about the culture and country belonging to each flag.
Melendez said the following event was Coaster for Cultura, where students crocheted their own custom coaster of their flag.
While Melendez is not new to the annual celebration, it is his first time working behind the scenes in creating events at MCC for the occasion.
The graduate intern said that he utilizes his own identity and being bilingual to craft unique programs.
“I’m definitely adding my little spice in there,” Melendez said. “I have kind of tried to weave in my own things that I’ve learned in my culture into it, but then also being open and flexible with all the other cultures and kind of adding what I know about them.”
Biological anthropology major and forensic science and art and design minor Kristian Marroquin, a junior, is also no stranger to adding his own spin to things.
Marroquin, who is is Guatemalan, Puerto Rican and Mexican, is heavily involved on campus and allows his background to shine through all he does.
He is MCC’s diversity, equity and inclusion ambassador, a F.A.C.E, Fashion, Attitude, Creativity, and Elegance, model and a member of Alpha Pi fraternity as well.
“With my fraternity stuff, I like to incorporate some Hispanic events, and for F.A.C.E, I usually bring different Spanish types of clothing and like to incorporate some Spanish backgrounds in it with the color-coding,” Marroquin said.
Marroquin, who also works alongside Melendez, is excited about the upcoming events in MCC.
“I love music, and I’m excited for the food,” Marroquin said. “Me personally, I love everything with Sazón and Adobo.”
Over cultural food and refreshments in MCC, Hispanic students can mingle and exchange customs and backgrounds with one another.
Marroquin said that these events are an opportunity for Hispanics to “educate themselves on other cultures and really learn more about their own culture as well.”
While these events are in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, all students and staff from various backgrounds and cultural ethnic groups are welcome to celebrate.
Exercise science major Dawin Magloire, a senior, who is of Haitian descent said that he plans on celebrating in the MCC.
“I think from an outside perspective we could appreciate their heritage as well and be aware of what they do culturally,” Magloire said. “Also, letting them know that we have similarities in terms of how we do things culturally.”
Various ethnic groups can thread together through Hispanic Heritage Month.
These cultural spaces can be viewed as learning opportunities for non-Hispanics as well.
“It can help to understand us a little bit more, to understand our culture, our music, how we speak and how each one of our countries are very different from each other,” Marroquin said. “We’re underneath the same umbrella, but we’re very different raindrops.”
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