STORY AND PHOTO BY GABI GARCIA, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
With fall just around the corner, Cypress College is beginning its Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations. In a detailed Instagram post, the Puente Program at Cypress announced its celebration schedule.
The schedule includes celebrations starting on Sept. 14 going through Oct. 26. First up on the roster is an Opening Kick-Off and the Cruz Reynoso Building Dedication at Fullerton College. Throughout the month, the Puente Program will be hosting ceremonies, conference panels, and fine arts events at both schools.
Students began filing onto campus for the Kick-off event around 10 a.m., with Puente Program Coordinator Dr. Therese Mosqueda-Ponce speaking about a short history of why we celebrate and honor Hispanic Heritage Month. She explained the several holidays that would be coming up for Mexico, including their independence day on Sept. 16. Afterwards, she invited all attendees to get food, and there were different kinds of Hispanic foods being served.
As students and faculty sat back down, different faculty members from the Language departments were introduced and given gratitude for their contributions to the celebrations and the school. Afterwards, a group of dancers performed several traditional dances inspired by different Mexican states including Jalisco and Veracruz. The last dance performed was the most traditional and most known dance in Mexico, causing the audience in clapping and “gritos”, screaming in English.
As the event went on, President JoAnna Schilling spoke to the audience, extending her welcome and gratitude to the Puente Program for putting on the event for Cypress students. Students passing by would stop and take a moment to take in the fun.
After the dancing, Mosqueda-Ponce announced the list of events, and explained how excited she was for the car show beginning held at Fullerton College on Sept. 30, “I’ve always wanted to do a car show!” then announcing her husband’s car would be in the show.
She went on to announce a notable guest to one of the many events taking place during the month, Dolores Huerta, the co-founder of the United Farmworkers Association who worked alongside Ceasar Chavez, would be speaking at the event.
“She encouraged the phrase ‘Si se puede’, and who else says ‘Si se puede’?” Mosqueda-Ponce asked, the audience said in unison “Puente!” she continued with, “Yes, you can do it…[if you] put your mind and your heart to it, you can do it.”
At the end of the event, students were encouraged to participate in activities like papel picado, “cut paper” and skull painting. Students and faculty cheered and clapped as Mosqueda-Ponce thanked everyone for their participation.