With more than 12 years as a traditional event on campus, the Center for Multicultural Initiatives and the Hispanic Celebration Committee members are already looking forward to another year of festivities as the annual Hispanic Celebration – a month full of events to share the culture – wrapped up on Friday, Oct. 1, in Vandenberg Hall.

The finale included Bingo­­—in Spanish of course—and several different Hispanic crafts that students could create while enjoying snacks and karaoke. The film, “El Norte,” was also being shown.

Running through the month of September, the Hispanic Celebration is stocked full of events to engage students in several activities surrounding the Hispanic culture.  The events are geared toward expanding students’ knowledge of the multiple Spanish speaking countries, and not just Mexico, said Angela Milliken, Modern Languages and Literature Special Lecturer.

This year featured the Independence Day Celebration, commemorating more than 200 years of Spanish-speaking countries.  Students partook in the Independence Day Celebration in the Oakland Center with performers ranging from dancers to musicians.

Members of the committee and those involved with the organization of the festivities hope to make the Independence Day Celebration a signature event for Hispanic month in the future.

Other activities that were new this year included a formal debate about immigration that took place in the Gold rooms of the OC.  Nine specialized panelists lead the debate as more than 200 students and guests were present for the discussion.

“Everything was a little different this year,” Nicole Lucio, Retention Coordinator for the Center for Multicultural Initiatives, said.

Jean Ann Miller, director of Center for Student Activities, said for the final event on Friday, the committee wanted to bring the celebration to students by hosting the wrap-up party in the residence hall to make it more of a social event.

According to Cecilia Saenz-Roby, Assistant professor of Spanish, the goal for the future is to see the month-long celebration grow.  The events have been well attended, but there is always a push to have an even greater turnout in the future and with a slew of new events, committee members hope to accomplish that.