Oakland University came alive this October as students, faculty and organizations joined together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) to honor the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. Through vibrant events and heartfelt collaboration, this year’s celebration reflected unity, pride and cultural connection.
Rebecca Mercado Jones, professor of Communication, Journalism and Public Relations, helped open and close the month’s festivities with a message of empowerment.
“I hoped to share the history and meaning of Hispanic Heritage Month and the contributions of Latine people,” Mercado Jones said. “This year has been more collaborative than ever. It brings me joy to see the pride expressed in our rich cultural heritage. We will not shrink to make others more comfortable.”
The celebration brought together several Hispanic student organizations that created spaces for connection and representation.
Jasmin Carmona-Almanza, president of the Spanish Club, said this year’s Festival del Barrio and Lotería Night highlighted the diversity within OU’s Latino community.
“Festival del Barrio truly showcased so many countries — 21 in total,” Carmona-Almanza said. “Seeing students light up when they saw their country represented was beautiful.”
For Carmona-Almanza, these events were about belonging.
“More than anything, they bring pride to our multicultural campus and allow everyone to embrace or learn about Hispanic culture,” she said.
The Spanish Club plans to continue the celebration through a film screening of “Bajo la Misma Luna” on Oct. 22 and a trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts to view Día de Muertos ofrendas.
Guadalupe Sanchez, president of Sigma Delta Pi, OU’s National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, emphasized the importance of service and shared experiences. Her organization partnered with the Center for Multicultural Initiatives (CMI) for a volunteer event at La Casa Amiga.
“The volunteer work was a turning point for me,” Sanchez said. “These events help us show our culture in a meaningful and educational way. My favorite moment was hearing someone say our event made them feel welcomed — that’s all I could ask for.”
The Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO) also helped lead the month’s events. Jenna DeVoogd, HALO’s president, said the cookout aimed to build community for Hispanic students and allies alike.
“Our main goal was to create a space where people could hang out, eat good food and celebrate culture together,” DeVoogd said. “By being consistent in promoting events and collaborating with other clubs, we reached a bigger audience.”
HALO will continue the celebration with a Día de los Muertos ofrenda displayed in Kresge Library from Nov. 3-7.
“Students can leave photos or notes for loved ones,” DeVoogd explained. “We’ll also host a workshop on October 28 about the meaning and symbolism of the ofrenda. We hope it gives students a space to celebrate and learn.”
As the celebrations wrap up, the shared message among students and faculty remains clear: representation, collaboration and cultural pride matter deeply.
“My hope is that people recognize and respect the dignity and value of Hispanic Heritage Month and the humans behind the movement,” Jones said. “There is room to celebrate all of us.”
Bianca Stepanyan, retention coordinator for CMI, echoed that spirit of togetherness.
“Hispanic Heritage Month is about building community and amplifying student voices,” she said. “The pride and collaboration we’ve seen this year are just the beginning.”
