Get in the swing of salsa dancing and join in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

This month NAU offers a piñata full of activities that focus attention on the contributions of people of Hispanic heritage to the history of the United States.

Next week kicks off a month of Hispanic celebrations, as Sept. 15 is the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Additionally, Sept. 16 is the day Mexico proclaimed its independence, and Chile did the same on Sept. 18.

Hilda Ladner, director of the Multicultural Student Center, said that relationships with family and friends are a big part of Latino culture.

"This month should allow us to slow down and spend time interacting with each other and catch up with old friends and make new ones," Ladner said.

The celebration starts on Monday, Sept. 17, from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the University Union's Havasupai A room with "Café y Pan," where coffee and traditional Mexican sweet bread will be served and information about NAU's Hispanic Heritage Month activities will be available.

"NAU has over 1,700 Latino students and while we plan activities that celebrate culture throughout the year, it is especially important to recognize the contributions of Latinos to the United States during this nationally recognized month," Ladner said. "It is a time to celebrate Latino presencia and Northern Arizona University's success in serving Latino students."