Smeal Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Events, Films, and Cuisine

Penn State's Smeal College of Business is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month with events and special programs beginning today.

The festivities include showings of Hispanic-themed films, a business networking session in Spanish, a Latin dance workshop, and special meal themes in the Business Building's Blue Chip Bistro:

• Kickoff Informational Event
  Thursday, Oct. 1
  Business Building Atrium
  12 p.m.
• Movie Night
  Every Thursday, starting Oct. 8
  208 Business Building
  7 p.m.
• Tex-Mex Cuisine
  Oct. 5-16
  Blue Chip Bistro
• Business Networking in Conversational Spanish
  Tuesday, Oct. 13
  Business Building Atrium
  6:30-7:30 p.m.
• Latin American Cuisine
  Oct. 19-30
  Blue Chip Bistro
• Latin Dance Workshop
  Wednesday, Oct. 28
  Business Building Atrium
  6:30-7:30 p.m.
  

National Hispanic Heritage Month got its start on Sept. 16, 1968, when President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed the week of Sept. 15 to be recognized as National Hispanic Heritage Week. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the celebration to a 30-day period from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, coinciding with the Sept. 15 independence days of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Additionally, Sept. 16 and Sept. 18 mark the independence days of Mexico and Chile, respectively. Día de la Raza also falls within this 30-day period.