On October 17, Geneva students celebrated Hispanic heritage month with the third annual La Fiesta, an event that brings Hispanic culture to campus. The event is a joyful reminder of home for some, and a new experience of old traditions for others.
This year, the event was planned by the Center for Student Engagement’s Global Engagement Team, along with many of Geneva’s Hispanic students. Paloma Mejia Del Rosario, a senior nursing student from the Dominican Republic who helped start the event and has planned it multiple times, reflected on its value for the Geneva community.
“It provides a space to share traditions, food, and experiences while building community and understanding. God created us all unique, and this event was such a fun and welcoming way to learn from and celebrate one another. It gave us the chance to share the traditions that shape who we are and to appreciate the beauty of our different cultures.”
The authentic traditions that students were able to participate in this year included dancing, games, music, and food from several countries represented among Geneva’s students. From the Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru, El Salvador, and Mexico came pieces of a rich heritage passed down generationally and spread even to the Class of 2020 Pavillion.
Andrea Adams, a freshman student from Mexico, immediately wanted to help plan the event when she learned about it. Watching Hispanic and American cultures mesh as they have in her own family reminds her of the beauty of the differences and similarities among believers globally. Andrea was especially excited to share the festive side of her culture with Geneva.
“I just love dancing and parties – and planning and hosting them. The fellowship is something to celebrate [about my culture]. People come together to eat and have a good time. There are always the exact same songs at every party, and everybody knows them and always gets up to dance.”
In addition to dancing and crafts, tacos al pastor from an authentic Mexican vendor and homemade empanadas and salsa were a hit at La Fiesta. Attendees also got to welcome and connect with the director of the Hispanic Cultural Center in Beaver Falls. The Center is an outreach of Comunidad Cristiana Hispana, the first Hispanic church in Beaver County.
La Fiesta was started out of a desire to connect Spanish-speaking students on campus and provide a community that felt familiar and celebratory. But students from all over love the event. Naomi Bastiany, a member of the CSE’s Global Engagement Team, appreciates the opportunity La Fiesta provides to share Hispanic culture with students who may not have known anything about it before.
“It has given me the chance to get to know my friends better and learn a little more about the things that matter to them.”
La Fiesta is a Geneva tradition that helps students from all backgrounds grow in understanding and love for their neighbor.
By Reagan Shields ‘26
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
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