UNC Pembroke hosted the Hispanic Heritage Fall Festival on October 7, 2022.  Sponsored by the Department of English, Theatre & World Languages and the Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity, the event featured musical performances, poetry readings, dance, and theatre presentations by Acto Latino as well as other students from UNCP. Ms. Gina Saavedra, a student in UNCP’s Teacher Education Program, also brought her students from E.E. Smith High School in Cumberland County to perform during the festival.

“I felt part of something so big and beautiful,” said Yoselin Perez, a junior at UNCP. “I am proud of my roots, where I came from, and more importantly I’m overwhelmed by the number of people who want to learn about our culture, about my culture. Overall, I’m so happy that I got to enjoy this experience.”  Perez’s family is from Guatemala.

The University Center Annex was decorated with the flags of 21 Spanish speaking countries. Dr. Ana Cecilia Lara, Professor and Director of World Languages, opened the festival and participants were greeted by representatives from Sigma Pi Delta, OLÉ, Acto Latino, and Student Inclusion and Diversity.

“This is the most important event that we host during the academic year because we can share Hispanic culture with our community.  Students can also get involved and learn about the Hispanic community on our campus,” said Dr. Lara.

Christian Molina, a senior at UNCP, whose family is from Ecuador, stated, “The Hispanic Heritage Festival means being proud of who we are and who we represent. It allows us to show our own culture among the many Hispanic cultures, but also to learn how to unite and appreciate where all of us come from and what aspects of the culture we have in common. Through this, we can see the many similarities and differences that can be identified, but most importantly appreciated.”  

More than 150 students and guests participated in the event.