WKU’s Hilltopper Organization for Latin American Students (HOLAS) hosted its annual “All Around the World” event Monday outside of the Ivan Wilson Center for Fine Arts to celebrate the beginning of Hispanic Heritage month.
Hispanic Heritage Month, which occurs annually from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, started as a week-long celebration in 1968 under President Johnson and was expanded to a month by President Reagan in 1988, according to the National Museum of the American Latino. During this month, many Americans with Central American roots celebrate their home nations’ independence days.
“Hispanic Heritage Month is important because it provides an opportunity to celebrate the integral part the Hispanic/Latino community has had in growing and strengthening our democracy,” the National Museum of the American Latino stated on its website.
All Around the World provided a variety of activities for attendants to engage in, such as various information and craft booths, tasting food from around the world, entering raffles and watching Raíces de mi Tierra, a Nashville dance group, perform. Que Pasa Tacos distributed free food to the first 100 attendees.
Valeria Garcia, HOLAS President and senior social work and Spanish double major, was the main speaker at the event. This is Garcia’s third year as a member in HOLAS.
Garcia said in an interview with the Herald that HOLAS is not just for Hispanic students, but for everybody on campus. Meetings are held in English, and there are a lot of opportunities for members to get involved.
“This is a good event for them [HOLAS members] to connect back home and show off because sometimes you feel like you’re lonely here,” Garcia said.
Those in the WKU community could realize they can “find home everywhere” by attending the “All Around the World” event, according to Garcia.
(Anna Bell Lee)
Emily Torres, WKU alumni and former HOLAS member, represented her country, the Dominican Republic, at the event. The “All Around the World” event began during Torres’ freshman year on the Hill.
Torres said that everyone was welcome to come to the “All Around the World” event, even if it was just to get food and learn something new.
“We just want more people to keep coming here, so as always, you can invite friends, family, anybody that you really want just to come,” Torres said.
Carlos Altamirano, HOLAS member and sophomore , has been in the organization since his freshman year. Altamirano represented his country, Venezuela, at the event and gave out cupcakes with the country’s flags.
Altamirano said that he believes that it is important to share Hispanic cultures with people because it helps steer away from “the stigma that everyone here is Mexican or has Mexican culture.”
“Latin America is a whole bunch of different cultures,” Altamirano said. “The language is even different.”
Bosco Tuyisenge, attendee of the event and senior finance major, said he came because he heard music outside while taking a study break. Tuyisenge participated in one of the line dances during the event.
“I really liked experiencing all the different Latino cultures and trying some of their food,” Tuyisenge said. “I really liked the tamales.”
News Reporter Abigail Vickers can be reached at [email protected]
