Multicultural Center Plans Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15
Arkansas State University’s Multicultural Center has organized and planned several events with campus departments, student organizations, and the Hispanic Community Center to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The national annual celebration begins Sept. 15 and continues through Oct. 15.
“I’m very excited about the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at ASU,” said Juan Robles, a junior from DeQueen. “I think it’s a great way for other Hispanic students such as me to celebrate our culture and for others to learn and celebrate the contributions that Hispanics have made in the world.”
From Monday, Sept. 17, through Friday, Oct. 12, the Multicultural Center will display an art exhibit by Maria Villegas of El Dorado. The exhibit is entitled “Stage Impromptus.”
“The constructive dynamism I found in theatre inspired me to develop a series of works based on the magic and suggestion of stages where construction appears in a state of partial or total development,” states Villegas.
Villegas was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and resided there until 1991 when she moved to Arkansas. She is a teaching artist at The South Arkansas Arts Center in El Dorado. The exhibit can be viewed in the Multicultural Center Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On Wednesday, Sept. 19, student organization HOLA (Hispanic Outreach and Latino Appreciation) will host Viva La Noche (Long live the night) at 7 p.m. at the ASU Pavilion. The event will include music, dance, and Hispanic cuisine.
Saturday, Sept. 22, the Multicultural Center will collaborate with the Jonesboro Hispanic Community Center to host Hispanic high school students and their families at ASU.
“Because of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, we want to help make college more of a reality for our Hispanic students in the community. We will accomplish this by inviting them to campus and telling them about the admissions process, cost, and give them an opportunity to hear experiences from current ASU Hispanic students,” said Niya Blair, director of the Multicultural Center at Arkansas State.
A Hispanic Heritage Mixer is scheduled on Thursday, Sept. 27, at 4:30 p.m. in the Multicultural Center. This will be an opportunity for Hispanic students, faculty, and staff to gather and fellowship, as well as learn about the services and initiatives for Hispanics at ASU.
The final major event of the month will be the “Tribute to Hispanic Heritage” program on Thursday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m. in the Centennial Hall of the Carl R. Reng Student Union.
The keynote speaker will be Carmen Kingston, senior director of merchandise planning and integration at Sam’s Club. Born in North Mexico, she moved to the United States at 18. Kingston lives by the motto, “Family first, deliver more than expected, and integrity is the most critical aspect of leadership.”
For a complete list of events for Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, interested individuals may visit http://www.astate.edu/multiculturalcenter/. All events are free and open to the ASU and Jonesboro community.
For more details on Hispanic Heritage Month activities, contact Niya Blair at (870) 680-4052 or nnblair@astate.edu.
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