Hispanic Heritage Month

Once a year the MCC community comes together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The United States officially celebrates its Hispanic and Latino heritage from September 15th to October 15th. As of 2010 the United States had the second largest population of those who identified as hispanic, next to Mexico. Several Central and Southern American countries gained their independence, this week in 1821.

Photo By David Violette

Hispanic Heritage Week was approved by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 17th, 1988 and the length was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. This year to kick off Hispanic Heritage month Manchester Community College held a Hispanic American Heritage Month opening ceremony. On September 19th, Maria Monjica was a keynote speaker. Monjica, the former Vice President of Programs for the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving gave inspiring facts to the Hispanic audience showing the increase of Hispanic influence in America as well as Connecticut. Ram Aberasturia, Director of the Connecticut Department of Labor and East Hartford Councilman, was awarded the Community Leadership Award for his contributions to the Hispanic culture of Connecticut. Awards were also seen given to MCC’s own Ivette Rivera-Dreyer. Marving Irizarry, MCC student and veteran received the Student Leadership Award. MCC’s Dean of student affairs Dr. G. Duncan Harris was on hand to introduce the day’s speakers as well as hand out the awards.