Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15, and there are many events planned to celebrate. Greenville Technical College (GTC) will be part of Hispanic Heritage Month Opening Night sponsored by the Hispanic Alliance on Thursday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m., in the Clemson One Building.
The event will feature a panel conversation focused on the central role of Hispanic youth in the global competitiveness of the Upstate with leaders including Dr. Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College. Artwork created by area high school students will be sold during the event to raise money for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) student scholarships.
Dr. James P. Clements, president of Clemson University, will serve as keynote speaker. Panel participants will include W. Carlos Phillips, president and CEO of the Greenville Chamber, and Fernando Fleites, senior vice president of human resources for St. Francis Bon Secours Health System. Anne Marie Stieritz, chief impact officer for Liberty Fellowship, will serve as panel moderator.
The nation’s celebration of Hispanic heritage was established in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson and made a month-long event in 1988 by the U.S. Congress. Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the country at the same time that Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Belize celebrate their independence.
Each year, the Hispanic Alliance celebrates the month in the Upstate by fostering and supporting events that highlight Hispanic cultures and recognize the achievements of Hispanic Americans in science, education, the arts, and politics in South Carolina and the nation.
“We look forward to celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in the Upstate and promoting the events that corporate, nonprofit, and community partners are organizing to acknowledge the contributions of Hispanic Americans in our society,” said Adela Mendoza, executive director of the Hispanic Alliance. “This year’s celebration brings together some of our key partners including Greenville Technical College, the Greenville Chamber, Bon Secours St. Francis, and Clemson, to explore the role of Hispanic youth in our region’s future, economic growth, and prosperity.”