Colorful decor, music and laughter filled LaRose Student Commons at the annual Gala Latina. The event was more than just your average gala of people sitting and talking, it was vibrant and lively, full of community bonding and celebration of achievement.
Going on its ninth year, the Gala Latina is the closing event El Centro hosts for Hispanic Heritage Month. Since the Gala’s inception, it has created a space for Latine students to come together and share in one another’s accomplishments, heritage, and community.
Elon University freshman Kimberly Barrera-Paredes said this event highlights Elon’s Latine community.
“It really shows the community we have here,” Barrera-Paredes said. “As a Latina, I feel so grateful to have events like this, so I can truly see how appreciated my culture is here at Elon.”
LaRose Student Commons was decorated with a backdrop for photos where attendees could take pictures with friends and faculty; a memento of the night.
After getting their dinner plates, attendees walked into the gala, where tables were decorated with faux cempasúchil flowers, a type of marigold, and small cards displaying famous or prominent Latine figures, like Lionel Messi, a famous Argentinian soccer player.
A table showcasing the history and accomplishments of previous Latine Elon students was also on display, giving the opportunity to remember those who have paved the way for such events and the legacies of El Centro and the Latinx-Hispanic Union.
El Centro is a space committed to fostering community among both Latine and those interested in the culture, and the Latinx-Hispanic Union is a student organization dedicated to making events to celebrate Latine culture.
The evening began with a welcome from Sylvia Muñoz, director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education. Awards followed her speech, which had record-breaking amounts of nominations according to El Centro student coordinator Nicole Castillo. Through a form sent out, students were able to nominate their peers for specific categories including excellence in academics, art, and community involvement.
Elon University freshman Ari Loeza-Avila said this event gives students and faculty a place of recognition.
“It boosts people’s confidence to know they’re being recognized,” Loeza-Avila said.
Faculty were also recognized with awards — those who’ve fostered community and spaces where Latine students feel as though they are heard and can thrive.
Performances continued throughout the evening, showcasing the talents of students including poems, dances and paintings, all of which encapsulated their Latinx identities and heritage.
The final awards presented were superlatives, recognizing the efforts and work of student leaders who help make events like Gala Latina possible.
Castillo highlighted the significance this event had for student coordinators specifically.
“The student coordinators put so much effort into planning things like this and seeing it come to life, and seeing so many people come, makes all of us feel accomplished and happy,” Castillo said.
Elon University freshman Cindy Munguia-Yanez said Gala Latina opened her eyes to the community she’s a part of at Elon.
“We are a very important part of this community and it has inspired me to continue to do more and to make sure to uplift my community and just take pride in everything that I do,” Munguia-Yanez said.
In her closing speech Muñoz said the event will continue to uphold the legacies and heritage of its members, fostering a space where Latine students feel recognized and celebrated.
“It’s just warm and it feels like home,” Castillo said.
