The UIS Diversity Center concluded Hispanic-Latinx/e Heritage Month (HLHM) on Wednesday, October 15, with a closing ceremony celebrating culture, creativity, and community.

Students gathered to enjoy horchata and Jamaica hibiscus tea while painting canvases to express what HLHM means to them. Attendees also received event T-shirts to commemorate the month.

“Both of my parents are immigrants. I love eating the food, speaking the language, and music is also a huge thing for me,” said UIS student Marissa Romero, who shared that the month holds personal significance. “I had a really good time talking to a lot of people and meeting new people. I also liked the creativity that everybody came up with this year—there were really creative events.”

Over the course of the month, the Diversity Center hosted 12 events, including movie nights, tea parties, flag-raising ceremonies, and cultural gatherings featuring food and music. The events offered students opportunities to celebrate and explore Hispanic and Latinx/e heritage within the UIS community.

Yesika Coronado, a UIS student who organized the closing ceremony, said HLHM provides a space for inclusivity and connection. “It’s a month where everyone from different cultural backgrounds can have a community and a space to share,” she said.

For student Angeles Venancio, HLHM serves as a reminder of her roots. “It reminds me of my culture and my roots, and the support we have here in the community,” Venancio said.

Coronado noted that while the Diversity Center offers a welcoming environment, attendance can sometimes be limited by its location on the “legacy campus.” She hopes next year’s HLHM flag-raising ceremony can be moved to the Colonnade to increase visibility. “It’s a really good event—we just don’t have that many students show up,” she said.

Though HLHM has ended, the Diversity Center continues to host events that promote diversity and community engagement. Upcoming programs include a blood drive on October 21 and a Halloween party on October 30.