By Darryl Gangloff

Hotchkiss marked Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of events celebrating community, identity, and pride.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor the cultures, histories, and contributions of people whose roots come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America,” said Kamila Loya ’27. “It’s about celebrating the richness of our languages, our traditions, and our stories, but it’s also about recognizing how diverse those stories are.”

The month began with the cry of “El Grito” in Main Circle on Sept. 15 to recognize the independence days of Mexico and several Central American countries.

Three students then shared their personal stories and perspectives in Chapel on Sept. 29 and Oct. 2.

Alessandro Araujo ’26 spoke about growing up in Washington Heights, where “the speakers on the streets blast bachata, salsa, merengue, and reggaeton.” He reflected on the pride and perseverance of his Dominican and Colombian roots and the gratitude he feels for the opportunities he’s had. “I am privileged to be both from the Heights and a Hotchkiss student,” he shared. “My experiences here at Hotchkiss constantly remind me where I stepped off from. The more I learn about the world, people, and how to perceive it all, the more my mind whirs with ideas of how I want to serve something greater than just me.”

Kamila Loya ’27 reflected on growing up between Argentina and the United States and learning to find belonging in both worlds. “I’ve come to see that this ‘in-betweenness’ isn’t something to fix—it’s something to embrace,” she said. “Belonging doesn’t come from fitting neatly into a single box. It means bridging worlds and helping shape a community that is richer because of its differences. That's the power of our diversity, and that's what makes our Hotchkiss community truly unique.”

James Vazquez ’27 shared memories of family gatherings and traditions that connect him to his Mexican heritage. “In the summer of 2022, when I was 12, the pandemic had started to lift and my grandparents came to the U.S. from Mexico for the first time in my life. All of my aunts, uncles, and 30 cousins gathered together to spend time with our grandparents and each other. Meeting back up after so many years was unforgettable, full of energy, sound, and color,” he said. “Whether our stories are told in perfect Spanish or Spanglish, through the music we play or the food we cook, the stories matter.” His message reminded listeners that culture lives through the everyday ways families stay connected.

On Oct. 4, affinity group De Colores hosted a Hispanic Heritage Month dance in the Student Center, DJ’d by Marcus McGregor ’26. Students from Berkshire, Kent, and Salisbury joined the Hotchkiss community for a night of music and celebration.

The events concluded on Oct. 16 with a visit from Mexican author Lorea Canales, whose work explores identity, family, and the complexity of modern life. Students in Spanish and creative writing classes had read her short stories before her arrival. She spoke about her path from lawyer to novelist and the process of building complex, authentic characters.

Her visit came about thanks to the efforts of Vanessa Guerra ’25, who first proposed the idea last year. Guerra’s mother, Florence Peyrelongue P'25,'28, was on campus to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month during Canales’s visit.