The first week of national Hispanic Heritage Month was bursting with excitement at NJIT, as the university held three distinct events to mark the beginning of a monthlong celebration. The start of the celebration featured a lively party commemorating its Hispanic Serving Institution designation, the Hispanic and Latinx Leadership Council (HLLC) awarding scholarships to two stellar students, and a festive Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month kickoff event.

Hispanic-Serving and R1 Institution

With the Hispanic Serving Institution designation, NJIT is now the only R1-HSI in the state, just one of two in the northeast, and one of 22 such institutions across the country.

At NJIT's Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, New Jersey's Chief Diversity Officer Candice Alfonso highlighted the importance of the state's recent disparity study-the first to be released in 20 years. Alfonso emphasized the significance of NJIT's role in nurturing diverse talent, especially within engineering.

"The common comment has been, 'We can't find them.' That is not true. They are available, and we need to utilize them. What NJIT has done has brought this to the forefront. We now know where to get them," said Alfonso. "So once again, thank you everyone for the spectacular job you have done for students of New Jersey."

Local, state and federal government officials offered their congratulations by way of proclamations, enshrining NJIT's achievement on record. U.S. Senator and former Newark Mayor Cory Booker, the Essex County Board of County Commissioners, the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly, and the Newark Municipal Council all issued resolutions honoring the university's designation.

Elisa Charters, co-founder of Latina Surge and NJIT Board of Trustees member, reflecting on this year's Hispanic Heritage Month theme, "Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together," celebrated the resilience and innovation of the Hispanic community.

"This theme recognizes the many Latine, Hispanics who have paved the way for future generations to enact change, and it encompasses the spirit of innovation, resilience and unity that define the Hispanic experience," Charters remarked. She further encouraged the audience to celebrate their shared heritage and determination to pursue the American dream, a very personal journey to Charters, who noted her parents' support throughout her career and were in attendance.

Students Awarded HLLC Scholarships

The HLLC presented this year's scholarship winners during a ceremony at the Profeta Innovation Center. Israel Alcántara, a computer science major, and Nataly Jiménez, an architecture major were this year's recipients.

When the HLLC was launched in 2020, the goal was to advance a concerted and sustainable effort to achieve the goal of becoming an HSI by bringing together leaders from the community, in education, business, alumni and non-alumni.

"While we are already one of the most diverse universities in the nation, we must continue to attract more students, more faculty from underrepresented groups into the STEM disciplines. That is the only way for our nation, the greatest nation in the world, to meet the demands for professionals in these fields," said President Teik C. Lim during the event. "Without these professionals, the country is not going to move ahead economically and technologically."

Alcántara, who's currently the events coordinator director for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), sees the HLLC Scholarship as a validation for all the hard work he's shown since arriving at NJIT. "To be a recipient of the scholarship just pushes me to do better, to do more. It's a validation of my efforts, and it's showing me that all my working effort is showing results," he said.

Jiménez knew she wanted to become an architect since she was in third grade, thanks to her grandfather's inspiration back in her native Dominican Republic.

"My grandpa used to design the houses and build them himself," said Jiménez. "He used to work on our neighbors' houses, and I used to see it all the time, and he would work on our house. I used to always want to help him, 'Can I mix this cement? Can I put the water in? Can I measure this?' And he would teach me every summer that I used to go back to the Dominican Republic."

Hispanic and Latine Heritage Kickoff

For the first time as an HSI, NJIT's student body came together to share the Hispanic and Latine culture and heritage with the Highlander community in an energetic opening ceremony. The event featured performances from the 2024 National Youth Poet Laureate Stephanie Pacheco, mariachis and passionate student speakers.

"Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month is a vibrant celebration of the rich cultural contributions, resilience, and innovation of the Hispanic and Latine community," said NJIT's Chief Diversity Officer David Jones. "At NJIT, we're proud to honor this legacy through a monthlong series of events that bring together our diverse campus community. I invite everyone to join us in these festivities as we continue to foster unity, learning and inclusion."

The sentiment shared by NJIT's students in response to the university's designation reflects a deep sense of pride and empowerment. Victoria Almeyda, president of the Society of Hispanic and Latine Appreciation, and Angel Cazares, president of the Hispanic and Latin Association of Computing College Students (HACCS), expressed gratitude for the recognition of their cultural identity and appreciate how NJIT is creating spaces where Hispanic and Latine students can thrive socially and academically.

Student leaders characterized this milestone as an opportunity to further strengthen their connections to their heritage while empowering others to succeed. With NJIT's focus on diversity and inclusion, they are optimistic that more resources and opportunities will be available to uplift Hispanic and Latine students, enhancing their academic and personal journeys.

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