Last spring, six student leaders from the HOLA (Hispano-Latino Affinity Group) — Izzy Sotomayor ’27, Ethan Axler, Sophia Quezada, William Luna ’29 , Isabelle Mckee ’29, and Caleb Koller ’29 — made history by attending the first-ever Hispanic-Latino Symposium for Independent Schools of The Triangle.
Hosted at Durham Academy, the event served as a landmark gathering for students across the region to connect, share their heritage, and discuss the future of the Hispanic-Latino community in education.
A Day of Connection and Insight
The group, accompanied by sponsors Luis Girón and Manuel González, along with chaperone Justin Cobb, joined a packed agenda designed to inspire leadership and cultural pride.
The morning kicked off with a warm welcome from Durham Academy’s Head of School, Michael-Ulku Steiner, followed by a powerful keynote address. Pilar Rocha, the CEO of El Centro Hispano, spoke to the students about the importance of community advocacy and the strength found in shared cultural roots.
“It was a great opportunity to connect and listen to others sharing their life stories and build a sense of community,” said Sotomayor, the HOLA president. “I brought with me a lot of ideas to work on with peers at school.”
Collaborative Workshops
The core of the day focused on interactive learning. Students participated in two major workshops:
- Workshop 1 (Durham Academy): Focused on navigating identity and the unique experiences of Hispanic students in independent school environments.
- Workshop 2 (Cary Academy): Explored leadership through the lens of cultural heritage.
Reflections from HOLA
Our representatives participated with immense enthusiasm, engaging in dialogue with peers from across the Triangle area. Between sessions and during the community lunch, the students exchanged ideas on how to strengthen the HOLA group’s presence back on our own campus.
The symposium concluded with a sense of unity and a clear message: our voices are vital to the fabric of our schools. As the HOLA group returns, they bring back not just memories, but a renewed commitment to celebrating our culture every day.
“The Hispanic Symposium was an amazing experience,” Luna said. “I made so many friends and memories at it.
