Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month at Frontier

From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizing the achievements and contributions of Hispanic-American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. This celebration began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded to a 30-day period by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. The theme for 2024 is "Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together."

At Frontier Airlines, we are proud to feature some of our incredible Hispanic team members who were recommended by their supervisors or colleagues. Let's meet a few of them:

Nanci Bobadilla-Rivera, Senior Onboarding Coordinator in Human Resources

What does National Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?

"National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate my cultural heritage and my roots as a Mexican-American. It is a chance to honor the traditions and values passed down through generations in my family while learning more about the diverse cultures around me. As a first-generation American, it is easy to forget about my roots and where my family came from. It is important for me to take this time to celebrate the beautiful culture and community my parents, grandparents, and all the generations before them came from."

Any family traditions you love that you'd like to share?

"My family is big on keeping family traditions alive! All of my family is spread throughout Oregon, California, and Mexico. We like to gather at least once a year and enjoy traditional Mexican dishes such as Pozole, Mole Rojo, Tostadas, Ceviche, Tacos, and Tamales. We usually always hire a mariachi band and enjoy listening to live music while catching up with one another."

Is there a Hispanic in history you particularly admire?

"Currently, only 7% of certified pilots are female and only 1% of those females are of Latino descent. Olga E. Custodio, who served in the United States Air Force as Lieutenant Colonel, was the first female Hispanic U.S. military pilot for 24 years. At the time of her retirement, she had accumulated over 11,000 hours of flight time. She then went on to become the first female Hispanic commercial airline captain for American Airlines. As a Latina student pilot, I find it truly inspirational to hear what Olga accomplished throughout her long aviation career."

Oscar Decuir Diaz, Line Maintenance Supervisor

What does National Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?

"For me, it is a chance to say thank God for this opportunity and country. Every day we have moments to be better around people and cooperate with communities. It is an opportunity to recognize the experiences of Hispanic-Latin Americans, their histories, journeys, and achievements, the culture, celebrations, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from different Spanish-speaking countries."

Any family traditions you love that you'd like to share?

"Cooking tamales (coconut, butter, and raisins), following a recipe from my grandparents. This tradition continues with my family (mother, father, sisters, brothers) and now with my wife and sons. Sharing these freshly cooked tamales at the table with my family has become a tradition now."

Is there a Hispanic in history you particularly admire?

"I have a list of Hispanic people that I admire, and I will never forget them because the impact they have left on my life is wonderful:

• Rodolfo Neri Vela: The First Mexican Astronaut, a Mexican scientist and astronaut who flew aboard a NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis mission in 1985.
• Fernando Valenzuela (El Toro Valenzuela): A Mexican former professional baseball pitcher who played 17 Major League Baseball seasons.
• Luis Miguel Gallego Basteri (El Sol De Mexico): Mexican singer and record producer, often referred to as The Sun of Mexico.
• Sergio Michel Perez Mendoza (Checo Perez): A Mexican racing driver, currently competing in Formula One for Red Bull Racing.
• Marcos Witt: A pioneer of Christian music in Spanish, a musician, singer, and composer.
• Ellen Ochoa: The first Hispanic American woman to go to space and later became the Johnson Space Center's first Hispanic director."

Join us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and honoring the rich cultural heritage and contributions of our Hispanic team members.

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