Roanoke College celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

The Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Achievement (HOLA) at Roanoke College has an array of events planned for Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of those from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. 

The holiday was a weeklong observation initiated by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968, but President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a 30-day period in 1988. The holiday begins on Sept. 15 to celebrate the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.  

“The celebration centers around diversity and inclusion and serves as a moment in which Hispanics can re-energize themselves to face the challenges ahead,” José Bañuelos-Montes, faculty advisor to HOLA, said. “Hispanic Heritage Month serves as a mirror where non-Hispanics can view the world from the other’s perspective.” 

During Hispanic Heritage Month, a “Hispanics in Action” collage will be displayed in the Colket Center. HOLA’s first event was bingo night on Sept. 20, followed by a scavenger hunt on Sept. 23. The next event planned is a craft night, which will be held on Oct. 4 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Olin Hall. Also planned are a movie night on Oct. 6, an international karaoke night on Oct. 8 and a dancerea workshop on Oct. 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the ballroom. 

“Hispanic Heritage Month celebration enriches our understanding of Latin American cultures. Also, it brings cultural awareness to a campus that strives to become more diverse,” Bañuelos-Montes said. “HOLA is a student organization that works tirelessly to build inclusivity in every cultural activity to engage the Roanoke College community.” 

More information about these events and updates can be found on the Instagram page, @holaroanokecollege.