For Hispanic students attending USF, Hispanic Heritage Month isn’t just another date on the calendar — it’s a celebration of who they are.
Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, and honors the history, culture and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities across the U.S., according to the National Museum of the American Latino.
USF had almost 11,000 Hispanic students during the 2024-25 academic year, making up 24.7% of the student body — the second-largest demographic group after white students, according to USF’s Fact Book.
This year, USF is hosting events that showcase the diversity of the Hispanic and Latino experience, such as dance showcases, cultural panels, food festivals and student-led discussions.
But Gabrielle Dotti said these moments go beyond celebration — they serve as reminders of their culture and heritage.
“I am proud to say that Mexico had a huge and positive impact in my life, and it made me who I am today,” said Dotti, a sophomore biomedical sciences major. “Speaking Spanish will always bring me a sense of warmth and home.”
For many Hispanic students at USF, the celebration is not just about culture — it’s about home, family and the importance of representation on campus.
Related: USF students celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month: ‘Makes it feel like home’
This year, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Multicultural Programming Board invited Mexican-American digital influencer and USF alumna Yuri Lamasbella Godinez to campus to celebrate the month with students.
Known for her personality and comedic content about Latino culture, Godinez spoke at Noche de Cultura — an event hosted by the Multicultural Programming Board on Sept. 29 in the Marshall Student Center amphitheater.
There, Godinez discussed the importance of embracing one’s heritage while navigating academic and personal life in the U.S., according to the Multicultural Programming Board’s Instagram.
The spirit of celebration also filled USF’s Bulls Market, a weekly outdoor event held outside the MSC, on Sept. 17 through a featured Hispanic Heritage Month showcase, according to USF.
This showcase highlighted Hispanic student organizations, such as the Mexican-American Student Association, the Bridges International and the Latin American Student Association, through cultural displays of traditional music, dance and cuisine.
Hispanic Heritage Night, hosted by the Alpha Omega Campus Ministry, honored the traditions and diversity of Hispanic culture through traditional foods, such as rice, beans and plantains, on Sept. 26 in Horizon Hall.
And at the USF Recreation Center, students learned salsa steps alongside members of the USF Latin Dance Club — which meets twice a week and hosts monthly socials — at the MSC on Oct. 1, according to the club’s Instagram.
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Dotti said celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month means sharing and showing how “colorful” and “unique” her culture can be.
She said she lived in Irapuato, Mexico, from 2005 to 2014, and called it the “best and most beautiful” years of her life.
While Dotti was not born in Mexico, she said her parents moved to the country from Brazil when she was just two months old.
“I am proud and grateful to say that a part of me is still there and that I still love to celebrate Mexican holidays and talk about my time there,” Dotti said.
Dotti said she finds opportunities to stay connected on campus through Hispanic clubs, like the Mexican-American Student Association, and through events hosted at Bull Market or in the MSC.
“I wish more people would join and show interest in learning about all the different Hispanic cultures and traditions, even though many share a common language,” Dotti said.
Dotti said Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations can educate people and contribute to a sense of pride or healing.
“For those who aren’t Hispanic, it’s about education and learning,” Dotti said. “And for those born in Hispanic countries, it’s about pride in the people, the music, the festivities, the food and the feeling of being with your own people while celebrating together.”
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David Figueroa, a junior health sciences major, is from Guatemala and moved to the U.S. in 2023.
Figueroa said that seeing how Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the U.S. has been both surprising and meaningful, as he is still new to the country.
“In Guatemala, everyone is Hispanic, so we don’t really have that,” he said. “It’s cool to see people here celebrating our culture.”
Figueroa said he appreciates how the on-campus celebration brings visibility to Hispanic communities at USF.
“It’s really cool to see people actually wanting to learn about my culture,” Figueroa said. “I love my culture and my country, so it’s always great when others show genuine interest.”
