Unidos in Celebration: San Jac marks Hispanic Heritage Month with campuswide activities
San Jacinto College observes Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) at each campus with events and activities for students, faculty, and staff. The theme for this year's celebrations is "Unidos," or united.
We chose Unidos as our theme year because we wanted to focus on making the events something that will bring the whole college together. We hope the dance especially helps us all feel a sense of unity.
Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the achievements and contributions of Hispanic-American champions who have inspired others to succeed. With a Hispanic student population of over 60%, San Jac is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution, making it even more significant to celebrate.
English professor Dustin Hixenbaugh and Burgin co-chair the College's Hispanic Heritage Committee, which enters its seventh year in 2024.
"As a committee, we have representation from each campus across many different specialties," said Hixenbaugh. "We have worked hard this year to develop focused programming for our celebrations to showcase Hispanic heritage and culture to the College community."
New this year is the El Homecoming dance at the North Campus hosted in partnership with student engagement and support. This ambitious endeavor is a college-wide dance open to all students, faculty, staff, and alums. The event, which will be held Friday, Oct. 18, from 6-9 p.m., features salsa lessons, snacks, and entertainment celebrating the cultural significance and contributions of Hispanic people.
The committee received Student Success Initiative grants to help fund these events and essay and art contest prizes for Hispanic Heritage Month. The contests are open to all current students and winners receive scholarships up to $500.
"We created these contests to highlight students' creativity and their art as a part of the celebrations," Burgin said. "This year, we asked students to create artwork that displays concepts about Hispanic culture that brings us together and compose essays about unity."
Concurrent art exhibits by artists Venessa Monokian and Tina Hernadez at the Central Campus Gallery are special additions to this year's events. Monokian's As the Grow Glows is a photographic series that speaks to the importance of educating ourselves on the impact of invasive plant species and the fragility of our ecosystem. Hernadez's Nichos of the Afterlife features an immersive cultural experience inspired by the artist's Mexican heritage.
The artists will give talks at the Hispanic Heritage Month event Wednesday, Oct. 9 starting at 12 p.m. Both exhibitions will be on view at the Central Campus Gallery (C21) through Wednesday, Nov. 6.
"Our aim is for these events to provide Hispanic students with a sense of belonging and to remind them how valued they are at San Jac," Hixenbaugh said. "We also hope this will create an opportunity for students to share their culture with their non-Hispanic peers, fostering knowledge and mutual respect."
How can you get involved?
Día De Los Muertos Ofrenda Competition
- Open to all students, staff, and faculty
- Entries are due Tuesday, Oct. 8, by 9 p.m.
- Entry Guide
- For more information, click here or email HHM@sjcd.edu
Hispanic Heritage Month Art Contest
- Open to all students
- Design an original work expressing something about Hispanic culture that brings us together
- Entries are due Wednesday, Oct.10
- Prizes up to $500
- Submit your entry to HHM@sjcd.edu
Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest
- Open to all students
- Describe an instance of Hispanic unity you've experienced or learned about at San Jacinto College
- Entries are due Wednesday, Oct. 10
- Prizes up to $500
- Submit your entry to HHM@sjcd.edu
