AACC Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Kimberly Herrera has been trying to fill a void at (AACC). As coordinator for student activities, she has made it her mission to help “increase the Hispanic population at the college.”

Festivities to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month started Sept. 15 at AACC with Latin cookies, tres leches cake (or "three milk cake") and music by Cantarè.

“We thought there was a need, and decided a series of events was one way to showcase this [culture],” Herrera said.

Currently, AACC has a 4 percent Hispanic population, according to a Fast Facts 2010-2011 brochure published by the college. Herrera would like to see these numbers increase and is working with Rosalies Toledo to form a Hispanic Student Association at AACC.

“This group will allow the Hispanic community to develop its identity at AACC,” said Thomas Edison, a Spanish professor at the college.

Herrera also assisted in organizing events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

“This event allows everyone to explore a different culture,” commented Bethany Enyeart, Campus Activities Board member.

Cantarè showcased instruments and sounds of Latin American countries.

“We introduce another type of music that is not mainstream,” said vocalist Cecilia Esquivel of Argentina. “Folk music is not pop, so it is not on the radio.”

Students marveled at different instruments, such as the percussion instrument called “donkey jaw.” This instrument coincides with the saying "play the old jawbone.” According to Wikipedia, the jawbone is actually the dried lower jaw of a donkey, horse or zebra. The "old jawbone" is played with a stick. An accomplished jawbone player can create a variety of powerful buzzing noises.

Cantarè has performed at AACC for the past three years, and Esquivel feels it is important to share her knowledge with others so they can pass it on.

“Traditions are passed on orally,” Esquivel said. “These are our traditions.”

Edison will share another tradition, Mexican Bingo, that he learned while studying Spanish.

“I watched it being played among my Mexican classmates,” he said.

In Mexican Bingo, the player has a bingo card that has pictures on it with the vocabulary word written below. As the caller says the words, the players mark the appropriate box with a bean. Edison expects to play around five rounds in an hour on Oct. 4 at 11:30 a.m. in SUN 102. Prizes will include snacks, sweets and other items from the local Hispanic community.

Check Patch later this week to see additional photos from AACC's kickoff event for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Additional Hispanic Heritage events at AACC include:

• Art Exhibit: Latin Perspectives, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday at the Pascal Arts Gallery
• Music and Exhibit, Sept. 26, noon, SUN Dining Hall. Native Peru Musician Diego-Val will perform. Bilingual posters on Hispanic achievers will be highlighted.
• Hispanic Arts and Crafts, Sept. 29, 10 to 11 a.m., SUN 102
• Latin Dance Workshops, Sept. 30, Oct. 7 and 14, CADE 103
• Soccer Tournament, Oct. 4, 4 p.m., Siegert Field. Register in SUN 202.
• F-1 Student Regulations and Resources Workshop, Oct. 12, 2 p.m.
• Latin Dance Party, Oct. 14, 8 to 11 p.m., SUN Dining Hall. Dance to tunes by disc jockey Guess and enjoy refreshments.
• Zumba Fitness Class, Oct. 17, 5 p.m., CADE 103

Call 410-777-2043 for information.

Editor's note: Patch contributor Laura Wilson is an employee of Anne Arundel Community College.