Students danced the night away during this year’s Alma Latina Hispanic Heritage Dance. The baile, hosted in the Ponderosa Room of the Nebraskan Student Union by the Hispanic Student Association, showcased their culture through traditional Latin music, decorations and refreshments.
Joselyn Moreno Aguirre, president of HSA, said the dance is the organization’s way of honoring Hispanic Heritage Month.
“It’s going to be a way for us to just celebrate in our own way, in any way that we can, to just remind our students that we are here and they’re supported, and they aren’t being overlooked,” Moreno Aguirre said.
Other features of the Alma Latina dance included a photo booth, a Tajín fruit cup station and a student DJ.
“The reason why we wanted to do that was mainly to give students the opportunity to be able to engage and become leaders within themselves, but also to participate with their skills and various things,” said Estefano Paez, student organization coordinator of the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership.
Before the dance portion of the night began, members of HSA and Alpha Psi, the collegiate Latino honor society, spoke to attendees about the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The dance has been in planning since May, with students building props and community members providing papercloths for the colorful event.
“We tried our best with what we had, and now it’s finally happening, so it’s really nice,” Moreno Aguirre said.
Paez said events such as the Alma Latina dance can help students gain a global perspective that can impact their careers in the future.
“My biggest reason for why I believe HSA and other organizations should continue to do what they do is not only to be able to express their own selves, but also to be able to get other members involved within the UNK community,” Paez said.
Anthony Taracena, a sophomore majoring in construction management, said the event’s focus on Hispanic culture is what caught his eye.
“I think it’s good just so that other people can see how different this culture is compared to others, and it gives another look at how fun it could be,” Taracena said.
HSA meets weekly in room 142 of the Union. Paez said the main focus of HSA is to provide the Hispanic community at UNK with opportunities to meet and interact with each other.
In the near future, the leaders of HSA would like to host more events in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, including a presentation highlighting Hispanic historical figures that will be hosted in the Calvin T. Ryan Library.
Aguirre said HSA tries to make events that make Hispanic students feel as close to home as possible.
“Our goal is kind of to remind our Hispanic students that they are welcome,” Moreno Aguirre said.
Photos by Jenna Heinz / Antelope Staff
