Hispanic Heritage Month Runs from September 15th to October 15th in the United States.

On Friday, September 26, from 5 to 7 p.m., Regent University students gathered at the Student Center for the school’s annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The event, filled with lively music, delicious food, and fun games, united the student body in an effort to honor Hispanic culture and traditions, while also creating new memories for the university community.

First established in 1968 and later extended from a week to a nationwide month-long celebration in 1988, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic voices.

The month-long celebration runs from September 15 to October 15, beginning in honor of the date of the independence days of many countries, such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

At Regent, the Hispanic Heritage Month event served as both a recognition of this national celebration and an opportunity to highlight the importance of diversity within the university community. It reminded students that cultural events not only celebrate traditions but also create meaningful connections within the Regent’s student body.

This year’s event allowed students to get to know each other while also fellowshipping over activities celebrating Hispanic culture. People could be found inside, dancing in a circle to the upbeat music, or outside, talking with friends at the tables set up for the event.

The food this year was a build-your-own fajita and nacho bar, catered by Camino Real, a local Mexican restaurant in Virginia Beach. The food was the highlight of the event for many students. The smell of fajitas, energetic music, and the laughter of the students filled the student center as the evening progressed.

Isa Bella Thomas, the international culture and education chair who worked to organize and plan the Hispanic Heritage event, talked about the importance of the lively energy of this year’s event. She explains, “This year, the vibes and energy with everybody interacting, and the good times, I really felt. And it felt really good.” She says having the event in the student lounge and patio added to the “cozy, party vibe” of the event.

The event also featured many engaging games and crafts that educated on Hispanic culture. There was a table with card games, like Loteria, a traditional Mexican game, and a table of coloring pages, all Hispanic culture-themed.

Another one of the highlights of the evening was the piñata. Everyone at the event gathered outside at 6:00 to take their turn being blindfolded and trying to hit the piñata. It was a moment that brought people together, all cheering on the next person who would attempt to break it open. Everyone was also able to keep the candy as a special treat.

Isa Bella says, “I’m trying to find more and more ways to bring that education aspect from cultures into this. So I like to reflect that in fun ways. Like with the food, the music, the activities, we’ll have crafts sometimes, and the coloring sheets obviously.”

These kinds of cultural events are beneficial for the student body at Regent, not just for the activities and food for the students to enjoy, but also to highlight the value of cultural heritage and diversity in the university. They serve an important role in making Regent’s campus feel welcoming. They allow students of all backgrounds to come together, learn from one another, and celebrate each other for their differences and similarities while enjoying the activities and food the event has to offer.

This event offered an opportunity for education for students who may not be as familiar with other cultures and allowed some students to reconnect with their own traditions. Isa Bella emphasizes the importance of authentic events like these as “a great way, especially for people from these different backgrounds, especially students who have homesickness. They can come and just celebrate their traditions.”

As the event concluded and the evening began to slow down, students were left with a lasting sense of joy and connection. Regent University’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration was more than just an opportunity for free food or fun activities; rather, it served as a meaningful acknowledgment of the cultural diversity that shapes Regent’s student body.