This past Friday, the Art Club and Latino Student Union hosted a Decorate Your Own Piñata event. Aaliah Higareda, Art Club president and junior graphic design major, and Kena Oropeza, an LSU leader and senior marketing major, are two of the many minds who put together the event.
When asked about the planning behind the event, Oropeza said, “We wrote down ideas that were not done by LSU in prior school years and tried to think of creative events. I was the one who wrote down decorating piñatas because I thought a craft event would be fun, engaging and unique.”Higareda said, “We first reached out to LSU asking if they wanted to collab with an event because we were thinking of hosting a Loteria event for Hispanic Heritage Month. But they were already planning on having one for next year and asked if we wanted to be a part of the Decorate Your Own Piñata where we then settled for a Dominican themed beach party and we brought in all the crafts and supplies for the event.”
The event was “very successful,” said Higareda, with nearly 20 people and all tables being filled. A few members from the Boys and Girls Club decorated a heart-shaped piñata, Dominican-inspired food of chicken and rice was included and music lightened the mood, with the majority of people singing and dancing along.
Angelica Garcia-Ponce, a sophomore social work major and LSU leader, said, “I had so much fun meeting new people and spending time with the LSU team. I think our event allowed many of those who aren’t Latino to explore a different culture and try some amazing Dominican food.”
Oropeza and Higareda went on to mention what plans they have for the future in collaborating with each other again or with other clubs.
Oropeza said, “We plan to have similar future events that allow students to engage with one another, connect with the LSU leaders and learn about different Latin countries. We want to make sure that all of our attendees feel welcomed, regardless of whether they identify as Latino, and make them feel the urge to return to future events.”
Higareda added, “We are more than willing to collaborate with LSU again and any other clubs that would … be interested in making plans to collaborate with us.”
