Madison College launched Hispanic Heritage Month on Sept. 18 with a celebration at the Truax Campus that combined music, food and community.
The kickoff, organized by United Common Ground and Mi Gente Unida in collaboration with the Intercultural Exchange and the Division of College Culture and Climate, drew a large crowd.
Attendees enjoyed performances by Mariachi Corcel de Madison, an educational game and a menu catered by Mishqui Peruvian Bistro that featured Peruvian chicken empanadas, Colombian vegan empanadas, pollo saltado with rice and alfajores for dessert.
“Really today we’re just here celebrating Hispanic heritage and getting people excited about the whole month ahead of us,” said Jack Ramos, president of United Common Ground and an officer of Mi Gente Unida.

The event blended entertainment with education. After opening remarks, students participated in a Jeopardy-style trivia game focused on Hispanic history and culture. Ramos said the game was designed to be fun while also teaching facts about Latin American countries and their independence days, many of which fall in mid-September.
Princess Zúñiga, social media coordinator for United Common Ground (UCG) and president of Mi Gente Unida, welcomed attendees at the door. Bright decorations and lively music contributed to what many described as an energetic, positive atmosphere.
Hispanic Heritage Month is observed nationally from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and honors the independence anniversaries of several countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Chile and Belize.
Ramos emphasized that the kickoff was only the beginning of a month-long calendar. United Common Ground and Mi Gente Unida plan to host craft-based club meetings, along with activities leading up to Día de los Muertos in late October.
“We have a lot of different things happening not just here at Madison College but in the community, and we want to make sure that students know about them,” Ramos said. “We’re also promoting collaboration with El Centro Hispano over by the Goodman South campus. They have a lot of their own events, so I’d check them out if you can.”
Information about upcoming events will be available on WolfPack Connect, the college’s student engagement platform.
Organizers emphasized that all events are open to every student, regardless of background.
“We want people to know they can come celebrate no matter who they are and what background they have,” Ramos said.
The kickoff, with mariachi music, empanadas and trivia, set the tone for the weeks ahead — highlighting both the cultural richness of Hispanic communities and the spirit of inclusion at Madison College.