Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a remarkable close at the 2019 Estrellas de SXU ceremony. On October 11 the doors to Macquire Hall were opened wide for anyone and everyone to attend the celebration. Estrellas de SXU was hosted by Unidos and ALPFA, Association of Latino Professionals for America, two of Saint Xavier’s premiere registered student organizations for Hispanic and Latinx students. President Yasmine Zavala and ALPFA President Corina Salas took charge of the organization of this year’s ceremony.
Hispanic heritage plays a large role in campus culture at Saint Xavier. The University is considered a Spanish serving institution which means that at least 25% of the student body is either Hispanic or Latino. In the case of Saint Xavier this demographic constitutes 39% of total enrollment. It is for this sizable community that Estrellas de SXU is held for.
This community came out in en mass Friday night of last week. Turn out at the event has increased dramatically between this year’s ceremony and last. From only a handful of attendees a year prior the event has surged with new vigor as Macquire Hall was filled out for 2019.
The categories and recipients recognized at this year’s ceremony included: Unidos Star (Blanca A. Becerra), ALPFA Star (José A. Frausto), Undergraduate Academic Star, Graduate Academic Star (Becky Arceo), EXPLORE STEM Star (Alejandro Jimenez-Baeza), Service Star (Leslie Moreira), and Staff Star (Karen Salgado).
Estrellas de SXU was by no means a quick set up and presentation. President Salas and Zavala had been preparing for the ceremony since the previous school year. The agenda included such things as nomination forms, an award selection committee, flyers, catering, and finding volunteers to name a few. Planning and organization began in June of 2019 and culminated last Friday in a successful event.
Though successful in many respects no event is carried out perfectly. The ceremony went longer than had originally been expected. The run time of the event was a staggering hour and twenty minutes, nearly double the planned time frame. Ways to cut down and more efficiently use time will be discussed for future organization of the Estrellas de SXU ceremony.
Estrellas de SXU is one of the only times during the school year that the latinx and Hispanic community can celebrate achievement in their education. Those that had had a hand in organizing the event believe that students should be celebrating their achievements no matter what time of year.
Even though Hispanic Heritage Month has come to an end on October 15th, the Monday following the ceremony, by no means does ALPFA and Unidos plan to sit quietly. Any and all members of the latinx and Hispanic Saint Xavier student body are welcomed with open arms into these organizations.
“If you’re a first-generation student or a latino or Hispanic student we’re here and we’re here to help. We just want to make sure everyone feels like their part of the community,” says Salas.
“While I cannot speak for other students, I hope Estrellas is an event that lets them know they are not invisible. They are cared for and are being supported every step of the way!” comments Zavala.
Saint Xavier waits both patiently and excitedly to see what new aspects and improvements will accompany the 2020 Estrellas de SXU ceremony.
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