The Upper School concluded Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, with an assembly and afternoon food tasting organized by the Latin American Student Affinity Club (LASA). Faculty Advisor and Dean of Student Life Ms. Murphy opened the assembly by announcing that this was D-E’s first student-run event of the year. The leaders of LASA subsequently announced the theme of “Unity in Hard Times” and gave the origin story of Hispanic Heritage Month, noting that one in five people in the country identify as Latino. Next, students in the audience participated in a fun trivia game based on Latin American geography, famous Latino artists, and song lyrics to be translated from Spanish. Faculty and students also demonstrated popular Latin American dances merengue, salsa, and cumbia. Following an update on current events, including controversial ICE raids around the country, the student leaders imparted a message on the importance of “celebrating who we are… now more than ever… as diversity makes us stronger.” Toward the end of the day, LASA set up tasting tables in the Wharton Lessin Dining Hall featuring delicious beef empanadas; mango, passionfruit, and pineapple with optional tajín seasoning and chamoy sauce; and horchata, a sweet, rice-based beverage. Salud!