HISPANIC COMMUNITY CELEBRACION:

Western Connecticut State University will celebrate its recent designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution with an afternoon of events that pay tribute to the heritage of the community the university serves from 3:30 to 6 p.m. The festivities will take place at the Berkshire Hall lobby and patio on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury, and will be free and open to the public. The first 150 attendees will receive an HSI T-shirt and everyone who attends will be entered in a raffle for some WCSU Swag.

RSVP at https://wcsutickets.regfox.com/wcsu-hsi-designation.

Planned events include:

3:30 p.m. – Welcome by WCSU Pre-Collegiate & Access Programs Associate Director Jessica Coronel, and Gabriela Perez, a graduating senior majoring in Anthropology/Sociology and Psychology with a minor in Multicultural Studies. Perez’s senior thesis for the Anthropology/Sociology major is an ethnographic study focusing on what makes a quality HSI. She is interviewing students and faculty, and will be summarizing her findings and personal experiences of the difference that intentional HSI planning and development can make in the lives of Hispanic students.

3:45 p.m. – Celebration of Puerto Rican faculty, staff, students and community members with a performance by Brass City Bomba

4:15 p.m. – Celebration of Brazilian faculty, staff, students and community members with a performance by Benção Capoeira

4:30 p.m. – Lobo Awards Ceremony, presented by WCSU Interim President Manohar Singh and Chair of the Department of Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology Dr. Carina Bandhauer. Recipients are: Lobo Leadership Award –   Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves; Lobo Student Award – Najely A. Clavijo; Lobo Faculty/Staff Award – WCSU Director of Financial Aid & Student Employment Melissa Stephens; Lobo Alumni Awards – Carolina Bortolleto and Camila Bortolleto

5:10 p.m. – Celebration of Mexican faculty, staff, students and community members with a performance by Trio Los Pájaros – Mariachi Music

5:45 p.m. – Celebration of Ecuadorian faculty, staff, students and community members with a performance by dancers from the Ecuadorian Civic Center of Greater Danbury

6 p.m. – Closing

In addition to the entertainment, WCSU’s Sodexo dining services will provide an assortment of food to celebrate the occasion in style. Among the offerings will be an aguas frescas station, and tortilla and plantain chips with assorted dips including jalapeno cheese sauce, pico de gallo, salsa, guacamole and hot sauce. A buffet will feature grilled chicken asada, jasmine rice and a garden salad, and there will be a churro station for dessert — all at no cost to celebration participants.

RSVP at https://wcsutickets.regfox.com/wcsu-hsi-designation.