Hispanic Heritage Reps Pride Through MLEC
Each year, from September 15 to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month is observed across the entire United States to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of people from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. September 15 is the independence anniversary of several Latin countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
At MLEC, students get to show their pride in this month-long celebration by participating in many activities that were sponsored by the Hispanic Heritage Club (HHC). On September 20th, 2025, students were allowed to wear their home/favorite country’s shirt, which allowed students to share their pride and unite. Flags from nations like Cuba, Colombia, and many more were proudly showcased throughout campus, showing student involvement in a diverse event.
“I’m always repping the Dominican Republic! From the pictures posted and all I saw, it felt so great seeing how everyone was able to rep and the excitement in their faces, you can really tell they’re proud of their countries, and that is the main goal,” said senior HHC Vice President Marlen Bonifacio.
The Visual Arts Club (VAC) also played a crucial part in hosting a fundraiser that brought an artistic touch to the event. Students were able to pay $1-$2 to get their home/favorite country’s flag painted on their cheeks and hands. This simple fundraiser allowed students to rep their flag in a personal way whilst supporting the school community and helping VAC raise money.
“It was a fun experience to get my club to collab with a club filled with my people. It was heartwarming to see others of Hispanic descent have fun and express themselves through art, especially since art IS part [of the] culture, and it makes me proud to fully embrace my ethnicity, making me feel welcomed when others do the same,” said senior VAC treasurer William Zacarias.
The collaboration between VAC and HHC allowed MLEC to be filled with pride, culture, and unity, and was the start of many more events planned for the rest of the month. Beyond all of the shirts and paintings, this event connects people to their heritage and roots, showing how, from generation, their culture still shines.
For many students, it wasn’t just about showing their country; it was about connecting to their roots and expressing their pride and honoring their traditions and culture, from the contributions of the Hispanic community from both the past and present.
By celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, MLEC students showed the diversity that makes MLEC stand out from any other school in the district. This proved that pride in one’s heritage continues striving forward, not just looking back on the past, but carrying the culture forward.
