UPDATE – Oct. 26, 2025. 5:00p.m. – Title was corrected from “Bienvenida” to “Bienvenidos”, and final paragraph was edited to be grammatically correct.

El 15 de Octubre, estudiantes y residentes de la comunidad se reunieron a celebrar el mes de herencia hispana, o “Hispanic Heritage Month.”

En el patio del Third Space Center, la música llenaba el aire gracias al grupo musical Milonga, con base en Spokane.

Las mesas estaban llenas de comidas culturales, entre ellas habian empanadas, elotes y pastel de tres leches. También, las mesas estaban adornadas con cempasúchil, que representan una variedad de fiestas y símbolos. Lo más común es que el cempasúchil representa el Día de Muertos y el viaje que emprenden los difuntos. 

Volunteers decorated the Third Space Center with flores de papel, or paper flowers. Calliope Willis, a member of the decorating team, shared her perspective on the event.

“I’m from Tucson, Arizona so I grew up mostly around Hispanic culture. This night is really important to me because it’s a reminder of home,” Willis said. “Plus, we are in such a small white town right now. To make sure that Hispanic and Latino students feel welcomed and supported is definitely important.” 

The Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration is one of six events meant to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on campus. Another way that Hispanic and Latino students can find community on campus is through Unidos, Whitman’s student-run Latine affinity group. The organization’s goal is to “create a community and space where Latinxs can come together and support each other,” per the group’s Presence page. 

Danny Hernandez, a third-year student involved in Unidos and other cultural organizations around campus, shared her perspective on the importance of cultural events. 

“Being able to see all different types of decorations that aren’t essentially Mexican but more Hispanic, it makes me feel very seen,” Hernandez said. 

For Hernandez, the event was both a way to recognize individual cultural heritage and celebrate a Hispanic community on campus. 

“It’s important to recognize that Hispanics aren’t just Mexican, aren’t just Spaniards, it’s everyone,” Hernandez said. “Being able to celebrate Hispanic heritage shows that there’s different varieties of Hispanic cultures as well.” 

Hernandez’s mother is Guatemalan and her father is Honduran. 

“[It is] important to recognize that the U.S. is like a huge mixing bowl of different nationalities, cultures [and] ethnicities,” Hernandez said. 

Hernandez’s favorite tradition in Guatemalan culture is worry dolls, una tradición donde compartes tus preocupaciones con la muñeca, y la colocas debajo de la almohada, donde hará que todas tus preocupaciones desaparezcan mientras duermes. 

“These cultural events [where] either you’re a part of the culture or are interested in this culture, you can meet all those people that share the same interest as you,” Willis said. “[And] having cultural foods at these events is really important.” 

Gelic Gerona, a third-year student who interns at the International Students and Scholars Services was excited to attend the event and immerse herself in Hispanic culture — and to try the comida as well. 

“Whitman’s cultural celebration should be more emphasized,” Gerona said. “I wish students would really encourage themselves to attend those events.”

Unidos organizes other events during the school year as well, including Salsa Night and study tables. All students are encouraged to attend. 

“It’s a part of our learning experience to be able to go through this cultural exchange and be able to learn from other cultures but also put our own perspective [on] it,” Gerona said.  

“When Unidos puts on events […] definitely come even if you’re not Hispanic,” Hernandez said. “You’re always welcome to try new foods, maybe even learn a few Spanish words here and there as well.”

Whitman’s hispanic community remains an active presence on campus, with more events planned in the near future like the yearly Día de los Muertos celebration and altar.