Members of the ASPIRA Club at Oak Park and River Forest High School reflected on Hispanic Heritage Month and what the tradition means to them.

Mateo Nery, a senior, said Hispanic Heritage Month provides an introduction to Latino and Hispanic culture for those who might not be aware of it. There is a diverse brilliance that makes up the community, and it is far more than the typical American representation of Hispanic people, he added.

“I feel that the best way to do that is by highlighting Hispanic and Latino figures within the various sorts of fields that OPRF teaches you about in the classes that aim to showcase diversity,” he said. This way, spreading Hispanic history is less of a one-off and more of a regular occurrence, he said.

Kelly Diaz, the club’s faculty adviser, said she believes in embracing the culture alongside understanding the history. “Hispanic or Latino history is American history,” she said.

“It’s still important that we are well aware of others’ cultures and how they’re celebrated, and just the important pieces behind them,” she said.

Angie Hawkins, the student activity coordinator, agreed with Diaz’s statements and feels a connection to this month herself.

“It’s still important that we are well aware of others’ cultures and how they’re celebrated, and just the important pieces behind them,” she said.

Hawkins worked with Diaz and the ASPIRA club to showcase music, artistry and culinary aspects of Hispanic culture.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is especially important since COVID prevented sharing and celebrations, she added.

Hawkins worked with Diaz and the ASPIRA club to showcase music, artistry and culinary aspects of Hispanic culture.

Those included posters of prominent Latino figures displayed in the halls and the sound of Hispanic music playing at the minute bells. To cap the celebrations, OPRF invited the Morton High School Student Mariachi Band to perform during three lunch periods on Oct. 20, in the commons area outside the Student Activities Center.

Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place nationally each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, is intended to highlight Hispanic culture, traditions and history. The ASPIRA Club at OPRF, a local chapter of a national organization dedicated to leadership development for Latinx students, aims to inspire and create growth in the OPRF Latino and Hispanic communities. Aspira is the Spanish word for “aspire.”

With around 13.1 percent of the OPRF student population being Hispanic, there is a drive for everyone to be represented and aware of cultures.