Last Thursday, Southern Nazarene University hosted its annual Fiesta event, a collaborative effort by the Hispanic-Latinx Student Society (HLSS) and the Student Belonging team. The event aimed to celebrate Hispanic culture and heritage, inviting students from diverse backgrounds to come together and enjoy an evening filled with music, food, and community. Students Daniel DeLige and Kiara Yahola shared their experiences and highlights of the evening.
When sharing his experience, DeLige highlighted the vibrant atmosphere created by the food and music. He said, “It was a nice environment to hang out with other students, and I loved trying out the food.” DeLige felt that the Fiesta celebrated the culture of HLSS very well, and he even recognized some of the music, mainly songs by famous artists Selena and Celia Cruz. He emphasized the importance of such events at SNU, stating, “There are so many diverse backgrounds at SNU. Being able to highlight a large part of our community is crucial in order to better understand and love one another as a student body.”
Yahola shared her enthusiasm for the Fiesta, particularly highlighting the mariachi band. “As someone who is not Hispanic, I had never heard or seen a mariachi band in person, so I thought it was extremely cool seeing aspects of cultures that I was not familiar with.” She commented that the event was successful in representing Hispanic culture through the music, activities, and food. “Doing this brought light to some things about their culture that many people did not know,” she said. Similarly to DeLige, Yahola expressed her thoughts on the importance of celebrating Hispanic culture and Hispanic Heritage Month, saying, “Since SNU has a predominant population of non-POC students, events like this become an opportunity for students who aren’t a part of this culture to learn about it.”
Once more, the SNU Fiesta provided a vibrant and educational experience, fostering cultural awareness and appreciation among students. Through mariachi music, tacos, and piñatas, the event successfully showcased the richness of Hispanic culture, offering valuable learning opportunities for those unfamiliar with it. Not only did the Fiesta celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, but it also strengthened the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, enriching the campus community as a whole.
Photo by: Brisa Lopez