Date:
4/27/2005
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
Reporter: Hua Wen
PORTALES — The Hispanic Affairs Banquet at Eastern New Mexico University will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3, in the Campus Union Ballroom.
According to ENMU Hispanic Affairs director Nancy I. Varelas, the banquet is for celebrating Cinco de Mayo ("El día de la Batalla de Puebla"), a Mexican celebration.
The holiday of Cinco De Mayo, The 5th Of May, commemorates the victory of the Mexicans over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, with some recognition in other parts of Mexico, and especially in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think, Mexico's Independence Day, which is actually Sept.16.
We are also celebrating the diversity of Hispanics at ENMU and in general," Varelas added.There will be several Spanish speaking countries represented at the banquet. "Also during this banquet we take the opportunity to recognize outstanding Hispanic students as well as outstanding faculty and staff who have made a difference in the lives of Hispanic students," said Varelas.
Another important part of this year's banquet is a special Memorial Scholarship presentation in the name of Mónica Martínez, an ENMU student who passed away in an automobile accident.The entertainment is being provided by California's "Cascada de Flores," which is anexpression of Mexican and Cuban folklore, and ENMU's Ballet Folklorico-BIDA will be performing as well.
Banquet tickets are $15. For more information, call Hispanic Affairs at 505.562.2451.