Join Northern New Mexico College in Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Week

For Immediate Release
September 3, 2025

Press Contact: Amy Pena, Executive Office Director, [email protected] or 505-747-2140

Join Northern New Mexico College in Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Week

ESPAÑOLA, N.M. — Northern New Mexico College invites the community to a multi-day celebration of our Hispanic culture. Hispanic Heritage Week will run September 15 – 18, with events ranging from a salsa contest to a free movie screening.

“Our Hispanic community brings a rich cultural heritage, along with dreams and values that unite us as Americans,” said NNMC President Hector Balderas. “As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Week at Northern New Mexico College, we take a moment to honor the strength of our communities and the vital contributions that enrich our shared journey.”

The highlight of Hispanic Heritage week will be a showing of “Singing Our Way to Freedom” followed by a Community Fiesta & Hispanic Heritage Car Show on Thursday, September 18.

“Singing Our Way to Freedom” chronicles the power of music in creating a new identity among young Chicana and Chicano students during the Civil Rights movement. As a young man in the 1970s, Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez joined the picket lines in California and became Cesar Chavez's favorite musician. His journey is a remarkable lens on a time when young Mexican Americans became Chicanos. Chunky employed humor and honesty, inspiring folks to stand up and speak truth to power.

The Community Fiesta & Hispanic Heritage Car Show will include local vendors, music by DJ Dave and a Hispanic Heritage Car Show. NNMC President Hector Balderas, JD, CFE and Senator Leo Jaramillo will be guest speakers for the event. Food Trucks on site will include Lazy Buffalo, LowCo Dawgs, Clarinda Sunshine Sups and Joyful Sweets.

The week of celebrations will include a Salsa Showdown and Salsa dance lesson on Monday, Sept. 15. On Tuesday, Sep. 16, festivities include Latin music karaoke, Loteria, piñatas, and prizes. Wednesday, Sept. 17, is focused on Constitution Day, with activities such as voter registration and a Kahoot trivia game on immigration rights. Various Student Life teams will provide music, food and prizes across these events. The community is welcome to join us for any of these activities.

These events are cosponsored by Northern New Mexico College and the Española Chamber of Commerce.

Hispanic Heritage Week Schedule
Where: Northern New Mexico College
921 N. Paseo de Oñate, Española, NM

September 15
Salsa Making Contest and Salsa Lessons
Where: Rotunda
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Let the best homemade salsa win.  Judging will be by Mike Dominguez, Head Coach, Men's Basketball, Mandy Montoya, Head Coach, Women's Basketball, Tilly Nichols, Española Chamber of Commerce.  The winner receives an NNMC SWAG Bag

September 16
Games: Loteria, Pinatas, Latin Music Karaoke Contest
When: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: Rotunda

September 17
Constitution Day/Voter Registration
When: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: Rotunda

September 18
Singing Our Way to Freedom
Free Screening and Q&A
When: 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Where: Nick Salazar Center for the Arts

Community Fiesta & Hispanic Heritage Car Show
When: 12 – 3 p.m.
Where: Joseph Montoya Administration Building Parking Lot
Guest Speakers:
12 p.m. – President Hector Balderas, JD, CFE
12:15 p.m. – Senator Leo Jaramillo
Music by DJ Dave
Local Vendors – Front Patio
Food Trucks: Including Lazy Buffalo, LowCo Dawgs, Clarinda Sunshine Sups, and Joyful Sweets

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About Northern:

Northern New Mexico College has served the rural communities of Northern New Mexico for over a century. Since opening in 1909 as the Spanish American Normal School in El Rito, NM, the College has provided affordable access to quality academic programs that meet the changing educational, economic and cultural needs of the region.

Northern is an open-admissions institution offering the most affordable bachelor’s programs in the Southwest. Now one of the state’s four regional comprehensive institutions, with its main campus in Española, Northern offers more than 50 bachelor’s, associate, and certificate programs in arts & human sciences, film & digital media, STEM programs, business, education, liberal arts, and nursing. The College has reintroduced technical trades in partnership with two local unions and five public school districts through its new co-located Branch Community College, the first of its kind in the state’s history.  Northern is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and has earned prestigious program specific accreditations for its engineering, nursing, education, and business programs. Learn more at https://nnmc.edu/.