Actor and Writer Joe Hernandez-Kolski to Speak at Hispanic Heritage Banquet

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The Hispanic Student Association (HSA) of Baylor University will host a banquet celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, on the fifth floor of the Cashion Academic Center at Baylor's Hankamer School of Business.

Actor and writer, Joe Hernandez-Kolski, who appeared on HBO's "Def Poetry" and in the films Hancock and The Soloist, will be the keynote speaker. He will speak on the theme, "A Changing America."

A Colombian dinner will be served at the banquet, which marks the end of Hispanic Heritage Month.

"We want to expose different cultures within our culture to make students aware of how we like to celebrate and embrace them," said Polette Galvan, co-chair of the Hispanic Heritage Banquet.

Latin Dance Society will perform at the banquet and HSA member Mariel Perez will perform a song as well.

"People often get the impression that the Hispanic Heritage Month events are only for Hispanics, but we want everyone to come enjoy and get a little taste of our Latin culture," Galvan said.

The cost for the banquet is $10 for Baylor students and $20 for the Waco community. Tickets can be purchased at the Baylor Ticket Office in the Bill Daniel Student Center.

In 1974, President Gerald Ford originally declared Hispanic Heritage Month as Hispanic Heritage Week to teach Americans about the positive influences Latino-Americans had on the United States. In 1989, Hispanic Heritage Week grew, expanding to a full month of cultural activities.

The Cashion Academic Building is in Hankamer School of Business located at the corner of 4th Street and Speight Avenue.

For more information, visit www.baylor/edu/multicultural or e-mail Kelley_Kimple@baylor.edu or Pearl_Beverly@baylor.edu.

by Jessica Puente, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805