September 15th through October 15th is Hispanic Heritage month, and yet many students at Steinbrenner don’t really know much about it, or don’t exactly know how to celebrate. Even without any Hispanic descent, everybody can still take part in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Our school even has a Spanish Honor Society lead by Spanish teacher Mrs. Cuevas, which all are encouraged to join.
The Spanish Honor Society was organized in 1953 to recognize achievements of Spanish and Portuguese students and to promote a continuous study of Hispanic Culture. The club is recognized across the nation, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP).
The club partakes in all sorts of services, such as donating clothes and food to the Metropolitan Ministries, donating to charities and toy drives during Christmas time, and many more volunteering opportunities. The club also takes cultural field trips, such as the Salvador Dali Museum and Ybor City.
Any student is welcome to join, with more information on the application (available on Canvas). You can be of any heritage to join, and new members are always welcome. Overall, the club’s main goal is to see academic achievements of Latin students, spread peace and kindness, and continue to educate the student body about Hispanic heritage.
It is important for everybody to acknowledge Hispanic Heritage month, not just students with a Latin background, because Hispanic culture is everywhere and very few know just how much Spanish heritage influenced the country and people we are today. That’s the point that Mrs. Cuevas is trying to spread schoolwide.
“People should view Hispanic Heritage Month as an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions Hispanics have made to the United States,” said Cuevas, “[HHM] should be celebrated by learning about the different cultures, shopping at local Hispanic establishments, and going to cultural events hosted by the city.”
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, you can go visit your local Latin restaurant, and maybe try some new stores, run by Hispanic owners. Hispanic culture is everywhere, and sometimes it can be tons of fun to learn more about it. Joining the Spanish Honor Society is the cherry on top for those of you interested.
“I hope to see an increase of students interested in celebrating the Spanish language and the different cultures. We did not have a chapter of the Spanish Honor Society last year and we would love to welcome all students that meet the criteria to actively participate,” said Cuevas.
Zoe Rivera // Staff Writer