The Plainsman Press - South Plains College

Ray Buffington, editor-in-chief

The Hispanic Student Organization at South Plains College paraded away with a third-place win in the annual Fiesta de Llano float competition held in Lubbock on Sept 17.

The annual Fiesta de Llano is held in celebration of “dieceseis,” the day Mexico won its independence from Spain, and is one of the many galas thrown between September 15 and October 15 in honor of Hispanic Heritage month.

Schools participating in the Fiesta de Llano float competition are divided into divisions according to level of education, from elementary school to college, then given a themed category for which they would have to design their float.

SPC’s Hispanic Student Organization was given the category of education. Melding the theme with the festive Hispanic Heritage month, the students created “Tu Futuro es en Educacion,” meaning “Your future is in education”, and won the third-place trophy for their division.

Maria Lopez-Strong, diversity coordinator and a career counselor at SPC, was ecstatic about the win and passionate about the theme.

“In creating our own destiny, education is definitely out there in the forefront,” Strong said.

Even though having a shiny trophy to show off to others was a nice perk, Strong’s main goal for the float competition was to get new students in the Hispanic Student Organization to socialize with their peers.

“It’s more than winning the trophy, it’s the process of working together,” Strong stated. “It’s a bonding process,”

Future plans for the Hispanic Student Organization for celebrating Hispanic Heritage month include possible spanish music-playing musicians in the Snack Bar area of the Student Center and a creative celebration of “Dias de los Muertos,” meaning day of the dead, a remembrance day of those who have passed away.

If interested in becoming involved with the Hispanic Student Organization, join them when they meet in the Oil Room of the Student Center every Thursday at 12:15 p.m., or call Maria Lopez-Strong at 894-9611, ext. 2562.