Honoring Our Heritage

SNHS plans for Hispanic Heritage Month

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Riley Pate

After Thursday’s meeting, officers of the Spanish National Honor Society prepare a salsa-tasting activity for their members to try, one of many activities to come in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Eye-catching colors and symbols of pride. Culture derives from all places, and everyone holds a unique identity within themselves to share. For the months of September and October, Hispanic and Latino pride will flourish.

Amid the 1960s, President Lyndon B. Johnson instated celebrations of Hispanic heritage into the creation of Hispanic Heritage Week Sep. 15 annually.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, President Ronald Reagan extended the observation by 30 days into Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed Sep. 15 to Oct. 15 every year.

The Spanish National Honor Society, SNHS, now prepares to recognize the significance of Hispanic Heritage Month.

“For this entire month, we’re doing facts over the announcements of different facts about Hispanic Heritage Month,” senior and President of SNHS Smruti Sannabhadti said. “Also, we have our members make posters about different people and different countries.”

Sep. 15 sits as an important date for many Latin American countries as it signified the celebration of independence from Spain. Throughout the month, the U.S. highlights the contributions and importance of Hispanic cultures in America.

“Last year we didn’t do that much just because of COVID, and people weren’t here. It was kind of hard to coordinate things, but this year we’re doing a lot more about Hispanic Heritage Month,” Sannabhadti said. “We’re really making a point since this is the prime of our year. This is what we stand for.”

During the month, SNHS officers plan events to make members more included and knowledgeable about Hispanic cultures.

“We were hosting a salsa-tasting competition as a fun activity after our meeting. Señora Renata Fernandez, the sponsor of SNHS, made some of the salsas and we brought the rest,” sophomore representative Norah Felefli said. “Many members learned about different types of salsas and expanded their cultural horizons.”

Outside of cultural celebrations, SNHS does its share in reminding the aspects of Hispanic culture contributions.

“SNHS usually works to spread awareness about Hispanic culture. We are a national honor society, and we do many projects throughout the year,” Felefli said. “The officer team makes posters, runs the carnivals, and works to manage the club. We also plan for other important Hispanic dates, like Cinco de Mayo.”

Already in planning for Homecoming carnival Friday, Sep. 30, SNHS will show up with a pie face stand allowing students to pay tickets to throw pies in the faces of officers in order to raise money for charity.