The student courtyard was filled with the sounds and aroma of Hispanic Heritage on October 13th. The soothing sounds that echoed through campus were provided by Mariachi Nuevo Guadalajara, who stole the crowd’s attention for at least a mere moment when they played a cover of Frank Sinatra’s famous “My Way.”
The students and facility who attended were offered different foods, which reflected Hispanic culture. One vendor in particular, Tia Cori’s, had a consistent line of hungry students, staff, and faculty. They were giving out free tacos with the choice of beef or chicken, a cilantro onion mix, and three different hot sauces for customers to choose from.
Daytona Salsa LLC instructor Kevin Guerra was there to promote group salsa lessons for students and faculty. Classes are Mondays at 7:00 pm, Tuesdays at 7:30 pm and Wednesdays at 7:00 pm. All the classes are $10, and they cover beginner and intermediate classes in salsa and bachata.
It was not just food and dance that the event celebrated. Groups like the Science Club, W.I.S.E. and Respiratory Club also gave a different spotlight on the day. The Science Club and W.I.S.E. were there to celebrate Professor Ynes Mexia, the famous botanist who collected over one hundred and forty thousand specimens. Out of those, five hundred were new species.
The Student Respiratory Care Association (SRCA) shared information about three important health professionals. One was Carlos J. Finlay, a Cuban epidemiologist. Dr. Finlay discovered that yellow fever is transmitted from infected from infected mosquito to healthy humans. Unfortunately, his ideas went ignored for twenty years.
SRCA also provided information on Jose Celso Barbosa and Severo Ochoa. Dr. Barbosa was a Puerto Rican physician, sociologist, and political leader. Dr. Barbosa was also one of the first people of African descent to earn a medical degree in the U.S. Dr. Ochoa was a Spanish biochemist who worked on the biological function of Vitamin B.
The vendors, music, and clubs really focused on celebrating Hispanic Heritage. Florida and the DSC campus has a significant population of residents of Hispanic descent. Hispanic Heritage Day allows the DSC community to reflect and embrace all that the culture has to offer.