National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed every year from September 15 to October 15. This month is dedicated to celebrating the Hispanic and Latine heritage in the United States. At Stevens, it’s important to celebrate this month on our very campus. On Wednesday, September 16, the Campus Cultural Events Committee hosted Cultura Carnaval with a variety of Latin organizations. Cultura Carnaval brought together students from across campus to celebrate Hispanic and Latine culture through food, music, activities, and community. All the different organizations contributed something unique, giving students the option to experience Hispanic culture in a variety of ways.
One highlight from this event was the live music provided by Son Montuno. As the music played, students listened, danced, and enjoyed the cultural atmosphere. For some students, however, it was more than entertainment. It reminded them of home.
There was also an opportunity for students to participate in a FIFA Futbol Shootout, connecting to the strong presence soccer holds in many Latin American countries.
Sabrina Elgazzar, President of Stevens’ Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and senior Electrical Engineering major, was asked what she personally believes is the goal behind Cultura Carnaval:
“To foster a sense of belonging. We might feel like a minority on campus, we’re not a minority. We’re together, and we all have the same goal of wanting to uplift each other.”
This event was about making students feel like they weren’t alone at Stevens. Students shared parts of their very own cultures with friends and experienced others beyond their own.
Food was another major part of Cultura Carnaval, giving a flavorful feel to this event. There were churros, horchata, arepas, and empanadas, which many students, when asked, named as their favorite parts of the celebration. For some, the food could have been something completely new, for others — it was a reminder of home.
Each organization’s table also had their own activity. For example, Lambda Theta Alpha (LTA) Latin Sorority Inc. had a flower crown-making session. Carli Sanchez, a 5/5 Computer Science major and a member of this newly established sorority at Stevens, spoke on the inspiration behind this activity: “We wanted to have something that made people feel beautiful. Who doesn’t feel pretty in a flower crown?” Students got to create their own unique crowns with a number of different flowers. Multiple tables also offered Muneca Quitapena, also known as Worry Dolls, originating from Guatemala and Mexico. Students received the dolls along with instructions on how to use them for things such as finals season, destressing, and calming down.
For many students, these activities offered more than something to do between eating or conversations. It was a way to interact with traditions they may have grown up with or experienced for the first time. When asked what at Cultura Carnaval reminded them of their home country, many mentioned the food, the music, and particularly the soccer activity. Whether it was a familiar song, dish, or trick, these details gave students a piece of home with them to Stevens.
Students were also asked what they thought others might be surprised to learn about Latine culture. While many discussed differences between countries, others focused on what connects them: “No matter which country you’re from, we always connect with music or food in general. There’s something in our blood that connects us” (Diego Navarro, first year Mechanical Engineering major).
Cultura Carnaval made Hispanic Heritage Month something the Stevens community could experience right here on campus.
