Best of the Week 2020-2021: Excellence in College Prep

ST. ED'S HONORS AND CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

This year for Hispanic Heritage Month, St. Ed's has incorporated this annual cultural celebration into multiple facets both inside and outside the classroom. Hispanic Heritage Month is observed each year from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Every morning, the main hallway featured a new poster recognizing prominent Hispanic heroes like Cesar Chavez, Roberto Clemente, and Ellen Ochoa. "As a community, we recognize and celebrate the members of our community, past and present, who are of Hispanic Heritage," says Vice President of Equity and Inclusion James Knight. "This celebration is an opportunity for us to learn as a school and recognize the contributions and gifts of those among us."

For the first all-school liturgy of the year, students performed readings and reflections, read entirely in Spanish, acknowledging the importance that faith plays in Hispanic culture. "It is important that we recognize the strong Congregation of Holy Cross presence throughout the Latin world in Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Peru, as well as the Holy Cross High Schools in this country with significant populations of Hispnic students, such as Holy Trinity High School in Chicago and Holy Cross High School in San Antonio," says Mr. Knight. "We also recognize and celebrate the many contributions of those of Hispanic Heritage who have contributed to the life of the Church, people like the martyr Oscar Romero, Archbishop of El Salvador."

On Monday night, as part of St. Ed's "In My Shoes" Zoom Mondays series, alums Pablo Lopez (left) and Farris Khouri (right) from the Class of 2014 spoke about their entrepreneurship success as co-founders of Mocina Coffee. Pablo, who is Guatemalan, lives out his Hispanic heritage and the culture's strong coffee tradition through his sustainable coffee business. Pablo tied his Guatemalan heritage into his business by naming his company after the national bird of Guatemala (Mocinno) and the Mayan diety that symbolizes goodness and light. During the Zoom meeting, students had the chance to not only talk to Pablo about his entrepreneurial expertise, but to also hear how he incorporated his Hispanic heritage into his business.