Joel Alzate, draped in a red, yellow and blue Colombian flag, read the lyrics to the hymn "Colombia Tierra Querida" as part of the Hispanic Heritage Month kick-off last night in front of Old Main.

"It's great to be able to recognize the Hispanics on campus and for them to be able to represent their country, even if they were born in America," Alzate (senior-industrial engineering) said.

Penn State's 14th Hispanic Heritage Month will be celebrated from September 15 to October 15.

"It's a national celebration of Hispanic heritage where we take the opportunity to let others know about our culture and our contributions to the United States," Melissa Landrau-Rodriguez, chair of the Hispanic Heritage Month Planning Committee, said.

About 50 people attended the kick-off, which featured three keynote speakers and about 23 students, like Alzate, who read a poem or theme representing a particular Hispanic country.

"It's great that they could get together and even though they represent so many different countries there was a sense of unity among them," Anne Bontempo (senior-Latin American studies) said.

Norman Bristol Colón, executive director of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs and Penn State graduate, spoke on behalf of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, but began with his own thoughts about the importance of Hispanics in the community and the need to look toward the future.

"It's all about dreaming. Dreaming is free, so during your four years here dream big, big, big. It's the only way to ensure that, as a community, the

best is yet to come," Bristol Colón said.

During the event, State College Mayor Bill Welch said while Hispanics make up only 2% of the population in Centre County, the ones that he has encountered at Penn State are an "energetic presence" and live up to Penn State's Hispanic heritage theme: "Latinos ... An Energetic Presence Revealed."

Each student that spoke in representation of a particular country held a small flag. At the conclusion of each piece, most of which were delivered in Spanish, the speaker placed their country's flag in a small holder so, in the end, all of the different nations were represented together.

Alzate read his song first in Spanish and then in English. He said that the hymn was so popular in Colombia that it "might as well be the national anthem."

"It's talking about how it's the beloved country and its land is a prayer and brings life to the Colombian people," he said.

This year marks the first time Penn State celebrates the month on the days it is celebrated nationally instead of in November. Events, such as a cultural night and a Latino festival, will continue throughout the month in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.