The Hispanic Student Coalition at Marian Catholic High School is a student-led organization dedicated to celebrating and commemorating Latin American culture and traditions. The club hosts a variety of activities and events throughout the year aimed at honoring these traditions and promoting cultural awareness within the school community. Created as a safe place for all students to honor Latin American traditions, the club has been able to build a foundation of community for all people, from any background, to discuss and engage in the culture.
President Vanessa Soto defines the purpose and mission of the Hispanic Student Coalition: “You think of the Hispanic Student Coalition as a club. Anyone who wants a place after school, anyone who wants a club, a community, this is their place, their club. Through this club, one of our big things is giving back to our community, but also making sure we’re also a community, and also finding our space to chill out after school. I think it’s kind of that space for community for us.”
Vice President Marisela Soto added on, “I think the club gives us an opportunity to really represent our culture in a way that other students can learn from it and become knowledgeable.”
Recently, the Hispanic Student Coalition hosted an extensive coat drive in February to collect coats for those in need. Additionally, the club has been involved throughout the school year with annual bake sales, a December prayer service dedicated to the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and an ongoing mentorship program for students and underclassmen to discuss academics, and assistance outside of the classroom, created by Treasurer Elenaor Kivi, with assistance from other leadership.
Señora Dominguez reveals more about the mentorship aspect of Hispanic Student Coalition and how the club has come a long way in impacting relationships and friendships throughout high school. She says, “You know I feel the group of kids that do come, especially the ones that consistently come, I have seen their relationships really flourish and develop. And you know, you can see someone in the beginning, and kind of say “hi” and talk to them a little bit, but before you know it, they’re coming to decorate our altars for Day Of the Dead, and then they’re coming for a Movie Night, and then they’re coming for a friendsgiving. All of a sudden, those friendships become deeper, and then it becomes mentorship.”
Over the past three years, the Hispanic Student Coalition has experienced immense growth in membership, activities, and campus exposure. Señora Dominguez, Junior Guadalupe Ferreira, and Seniors Marisela and Vanessa Soto are among the many contributors who have witnessed the coalition’s successful journey of leadership. Guadalupe documents her experience becoming a leader by revealing how she had started to become involved in her sophomore year, cherishing the experience that the club had brought her. She shares her experience coming to her first meeting in her freshman year.
“I was honestly kind of scared at first to come to the Hispanic Student Coalition meeting, so I was like, I don’t know anybody. But sophomore year, I remember I was talking to Ms. Dominguez and she told, she was like, you should come to one meeting. So I was like, okay, I’m gonna take like this leap of faith, ” Secretary Guadalupe Ferreira remarked.
The Hispanic Student Coalition has experienced significant success throughout the school year and has continued to expand its impact by organizing additional events. The club meets twice a month in Room 205. Students interested in learning more are encouraged to contact club advisor Señora Dominguez.