Utah Valley University, along with its growing percentage of Hispanic and Latino students, is joining the country in celebrating “Prosperity, Power, and Progress” as the theme of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month.
Since 2012, the enrollment of Hispanic and Latino students at UVU has increased by a staggering 113.52%. As people throughout Utah and around the world make UVU their home away from home, a sense of connection permeates the university and fosters a community environment that allows students to shine and celebrate their authentic selves.
Utah Valley University, along with its growing percentage of Hispanic and Latino students, is joining the country in celebrating “Prosperity, Power, and Progress” as the theme of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month. While this heritage month spans from September 15 to October 15, UVU is focused year-round on making the university a place for students to feel empowered to succeed and bring power, prosperity, and progress to their respective communities and careers.
Stay tuned for details about UVU’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations!
Initially designated as a commemorative week in June of 1968 by Congressman George E. Brown, the Hispanic Heritage Month we know today was not declared until August 17, 1988, after California Representative Esteban E. Torres proposed the expansion in 1987. Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Regan are often mistakenly referenced as the figures behind extending Hispanic Heritage Week to a 31-day observance. Representative Torres, the son of two parents of Mexican descent, proposed the expansion as a means for American citizens to have enough time to experience and learn more about Hispanic and Latino culture. The dates of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) also carry significance as they represent the independence celebrations of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Chile, and Belize.
Hispanic Heritage Month also serves as a way for Hispanic and Latino people to celebrate and take pride in their vibrant heritage. Representative Torres credited his mother and grandmother, the women who raised him, for his cultural pride. “My mother and my grandmother were very strong women, very educated, and very proud to be Mexicans. They were the ones that taught me to defend my rights and to not be ashamed to be a Mexican.”
As we celebrate the triumphs and achievements of Hispanic and Latino people during Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize those who endured extreme hardship to bring progress to their communities. One such hardship that helped create the ever-progressing educational landscape we know today was the 1946 Mendez v. Westminster School District case. A judge ruled in favor of Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez, the courageous parents of 9-year-old Sylvia Mendez, finding that the segregation of Mexican Americans in schools was unenforceable under California law and a violation of the equal protection clause in the 14th Amendment. Seven years later, the historic Brown v. Board of Education case used the Mendez v. Westminster School District as a base of reference, significantly progressing the Civil Rights Movement for Black Americans. UVU is a university focused on creating an environment where students can make authentic connections, and we recognize the power of the Mendez case and its influence on today's higher education landscape.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the number of Hispanic and Latino college students aged 18 to 24 increased from 1.2 million in 2005 to 2.4 million in 2021. As the number of Hispanic and Latino youth pursuing higher education continues to rise, UVU is proud to be a refuge where there's a place for everyone to pursue their dreams and receive a high-quality university experience. With high school-centered programs like Latino Scientists of Tomorrow, Engineers and Technologists of Tomorrow, and Business Leaders of Tomorrow, UVU provides opportunities for Hispanic and Latino youth to see higher education as an obtainable goal.
As Hispanic and Latino students join the wave of young adults pursuing power, prosperity, and progress for their communities, UVU serves as an invaluable jumping-off point for all to feel supported and uplifted.
Multicultural Student Services and the Latino Initiative
Through UVU's Multicultural Student Services, the university is committed to improving services and informing policy decisions concerning access to higher education for the Latino population. The Latino Initiative engages students, parents, K-12 educators, and community leaders in dialogues, programs, resources, and services to advance UVU's Latino student population.
Undocumented Student Services
You are a Wolverine. You are a Dreamer. You are an important part of the UVU community, and you are not alone. Hundreds of Dreamers call UVU their academic home, and we are so glad you are here!
Translation Services
If you need any UVU documents translated from English into Spanish, contact Multicultural Student Services with a translation request. Our staff can translate official UVU forms, documents, brochures, and web pages for current faculty and staff.
