DENTON (UNT), Texas — As Hispanic Heritage Month begins, University of North Texas faculty, students and staff prepare to spotlight the many diverse cultures and countries this federally recognized month celebrates.

National Hispanic Heritage Week was established in 1968 and expanded to a full month in 1988. The holiday commemorates the significant contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans on the history, culture and achievements of the United States while honoring the homelands of many of America’s peoples. The beginning date of Sept. 15 is the anniversary of the Cry of Dolores — the start of the Mexican War of Independence. This month also includes the independence days of several Latin American countries, such as Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

To celebrate, UNT Dining Services will feature its annual Hispanic Heritage Month food menu, featuring Latin American recipes from around the world every Friday throughout the month. The menu and month-long event recently won an award from the National Association of College & University Food Services.

The UNT Department of Spanish will host a variety of events to help students celebrate and promote the Spanish program throughout the month, including an Exposition of Cultures Sept. 17. Faculty, staff and students will set up tables in the Language Building representing various different countries throughout the world. Students can enjoy snacks, raffles and live music while they learn about cultures in Spanish-speaking countries.

Other events will highlight Latin American dance, indigenous writing and Spanish pronunciation from a linguistics perspective. The month will end with the traditional Folklórico dancers on Oct. 14.

Connie Martinez, principal lecturer in Spanish and faculty advisor for the UNT chapter of the Sigma Delta Pi — the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, enjoys connecting with students and educating them about the different aspects of Hispanic culture. Growing up in Spain, Martinez says there were very different ways of talking about death than the Mexican tradition of Día de le Muertos.

“It was so different, so loud. I remember my father saying ‘We don’t celebrate the dead — we pray for them.’ It really opened my eyes to different cultural perspectives. That experience may have been what led me to my work with students and Hispanic culture,” Martinez said.

UNT’s various student organizations are hosting events throughout the month, but they also explore Hispanic heritage year-round.

Ayri Tucker, a biology major with a minor in Spanish and chemistry and a communications officer in Sigma Delta Pi, has had a very fruitful experience with the organization.

“I really bonded with Kevin Guina, who is the vice president,” Tucker said. “Kevin made me feel very comfortable and was always kind and open. Kevin and all the other members make me feel like a part of the team.”

Being in the society first as a member, and now an officer, she finds the culture and language beautiful.

“I feel comfortable to not only learn the language but learn about a culture that is different from mine. I love teaching and promoting other languages,” Tucker said.

The organization will host a Mexican lotería in the Language Building on Sept. 23. They also will have raffles and scratch-offs. The whole event will be in Spanish.

Amber Johnson, a sophomore in the fashion merchandising, has been in the Spanish Club for three semesters. This is her first as vice president. She also enjoys the environment of the club, especially the way they can all learn from each other.

“I joined to get outside the class speaking. I’m no longer a Spanish major, but I still get to stay connected with the language,” Johnson said. “Everyone is on a different level, so you never feel like you’re by yourself. There’s always someone who’s there to help you.”

Kausar Fatima, a biology major with minors in Spanish and chemistry, is currently the club president. The club mostly gets together to practice Spanish.

“I’m done with my classes, but I wanted a way to keep up with the language,” Fatima said. “I plan to go into the medical field, so it helps to know the language and to understand people from different backgrounds. It’s also just a lot of fun.”

This semester, they want to implement more cultural and linguistic skills to help people familiarize themselves with Hispanic culture. They are planning meetings that center around different cultural foods. During Hispanic Heritage month, they are hosting an event on the history of sidra, a Spanish drink on Sept. 19.

“The Día de Los Muertos event is something to look forward to as well,” Fatima said. “We definitely encourage the members of our club to attend all of these events.”