Hispanic heritage month kickoff

Students celebrate and embrace hispanic culture

With Hispanic Heritage Month beginning on Sept. 15, the university hosted its annual kickoff to begin the celebration.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. It is a month for Hispanics to celebrate their culture and their heritage. Assistant Director of Student Activities Loreal Robertson shared why it is important to celebrate this month at TAMUK.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is really just celebrating the Hispanic culture. We have a Hispanic serving institution so we need to make sure we are recognizing our students and our faculty and staff who all identify as Mexican or Hispanic,” Robertson said.

Culture is a big part of a person’s identification. A student who was raised in Mexico shared why culture is so important to her.

“It’s a part of us and we can’t deny where we come from. It’s important to be proud of where you come from. It’s in our blood. My parents had to sacrifice a lot for me to get to where I am right now and that is why I am so proud to be Mexican,” Myrka Gonzalez said in Spanish.

Throughout the month, TAMUK is hosting many events to celebrate. Some of these include the Mariachi Showcase, Tamale Eating Contest, movie night at the Alamo Drafthouse, Hispanic Heritage Luncheon and many more.

While attending the kickoff and enjoying the music, food, games and prizes, students showed their excitement to attend these upcoming events.

“I am really looking forward to the loteria night. Growing up, my family and I would play loteria all the time and so playing loteria is going to remind me of being back at home,” Fatima Bautista said.

For more information about upcoming events for Hispanic Heritage Month, contact the office of student activities