Celeste Cruz/Vaquero Radio
Six organizations hosted the Lotería Bash on Thursday to entertain students, honor their Hispanic heritage and to raise funds.
Jacob Villarreal, a nutritional sciences major who is an ambassador for the Center for Innovation and Commercialization, coordinated the event, which was part of the university’s observance of Hispanic Heritage Month.
“The reason I managed this event or made this event is to bring organizations in, fundraise, because not all of the organizations could do their conferences, their meetings, because the lack of funds they get from the student government or SGA, from the school in general,” Villarreal said. “So I just wanted to give them the opportunity and to celebrate with Hispanics as well.”
Andrea Maldonado, a political science and economics junior and president of the Rio Grande Valley Model United Nations, mentioned the goal they want to achieve through the fundraiser.
“We do have a pretty big goal,” Maldonado said. “We’re fundraising to help fund our competitions coming up in November and next March to New York and UTSA.”
Marcela Gracia, an accounting senior and vice president of Beta Alpha Psi, the only honor society in the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship, said the event not only benefits the students but is also a way to be proud of being Hispanic.
“I get to demonstrate my culture in a very fun way,” Gracia said. “I love to speak Spanish. I’m always speaking Spanish and it’s helped me a lot in my career because I work with a lot of businesses in Mexico and it allows me to grow professionally.”
Diana Villarreal, an international business freshman and risk management officer for the Hospitality and Tourism Management Student Organization, said the club is raising funds to provide food for students during meetings and to help them attend conferences.
Stephanie Mendez, manager of the Center for Innovation and Commercialization, said the center will use the funds raised from the event to host upcoming events.
Ximena Rocha, a finance senior and president of the Economics & Finance Society, said the organization participated to raise funds for its members to prepare for jobs.
“For us in finance, it is very competitive to getting into the finance industry, like in a job,” Rocha said. “So we want to prepare them for that, so with certificates and licenses, perhaps, and conferences outside of the Valley.”
Students who want to pursue a career in business and gain experience can learn more about these organizations through V Link. Most of the organizations are planning to host upcoming events, such as a scary movie night at the Quad, a Halloween haunted house in October and other holiday-related events.
This is Celeste Cruz for Vaquero Radio.
