Every year, Hispanic Heritage Month offers an opportunity to celebrate the histories, cultures, traditions and contributions of our Hispanic and Latinx communities.
At Front Range Community College, the month is also a chance to recognize the experiences of our students and create opportunities for our campus community to learn, connect and celebrate together.
From campus kickoff events and cultural activities to opportunities like our LEADS program (Latinx Excellence Achievement Development Scholars), FRCC is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by creating spaces where students can share their traditions, build community and learn from one another.
Celebrating Through Family and Tradition
For many students, Hispanic Heritage Month is personal. It can be a time to celebrate family traditions, honor generations before them and connect with their cultural heritage.
FRCC students shared what Hispanic Heritage Month means to them and how they celebrate:
“I’ve definitely celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month, and Mexican Independence is very big in my family. We always make sure to get together, throw a big carne asada (barbeque) and celebrate my family and all their traditions.”
— Evelyn, FRCC student
For others, celebration is about something simple: spending time with the people who matter most.
“I have celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month. We celebrate by getting together, getting some food in and being with family. Something small, but something nice.”
— Jared Lopez, FRCC student
And for some students, these celebrations are deeply connected to family history and the people who helped shape who they are today.
“I have celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month; my whole family is Mexican. My grandma comes from Mexico. My great grandma, who has sadly passed away, was a great influence on me. We gather all of our friends and family for a nice big fiesta, and we enjoy being around each other.”
— Braden Lester, FRCC student
Hispanic Heritage Month can also provide opportunities to experience cultural celebrations throughout the community.
“I have celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month in downtown Denver. It’s pretty fun. Y’all should go!”
— Gabriela Garcia, FRCC student
Together, these stories highlight the many ways students experience and celebrate Hispanic heritage. For some, it means food and family gatherings. For others, it means honoring relatives, participating in community events or simply spending time together.
Celebrating Across FRCC Campuses
FRCC campuses kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month during the first week of celebrations with events featuring delicious food, arts and crafts vendors, lively DJs and lucha libre entertainment.
The kickoff events featured Hugo’s Lucha Libre, a Colorado-based wrestling school founded by event promoter Hugo Soto in 2014. The organization brings Mexican professional wrestling culture to the Denver area, providing students with an opportunity to experience an important form of Mexican cultural entertainment.
Along with boxing, lucha libre is more than just a sport or entertainment in Mexican culture—both are traditions that reflect a fighting spirit, as well as the shared identity, pride and cultural history of the community. Hugo’s Lucha Libre offers a local expression of that same connection, bringing these traditions to life for the Denver community… and for all three FRCC campuses.
The celebrations continue throughout September with activities hosted by the college’s Multicultural & Identity Centers.
Papel Picado Art Project — Westminster Campus
September 21–24, 2026 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Visit the Multicultural and Identity Center at the Westminster Campus to create vibrant papel picado (perforated paper) designs inspired by traditional Mexican folk art. Participants can transform simple tissue paper into colorful, intricate banners perfect for a celebration.
Papel picado, meaning “perforated paper,” is a traditional Mexican folk art made by intricately cutting colorful tissue paper into decorative designs. Often used to adorn celebrations and community gatherings, it is a meaningful part of Mexican cultural traditions, adding color, symbolism and a sense of shared celebration to the occasion.
Lotería Art Project — Larimer Campus and Boulder County Campus
Larimer Campus- September 21–24, 2026 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Boulder County Campus- September 21–23, 2026 | 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
The Larimer Campus and Boulder County Campus Multicultural & Identity Centers are hosting a Lotería Art Project, where students can learn about the traditional Mexican game, play guided rounds and create their own personalized lotería cards.
Lotería is a game of chance similar to bingo, played with illustrated cards featuring familiar figures and symbols from Mexican culture. More than a game, it has long been a popular form of social entertainment that brings families and communities together and has become a recognizable part of Mexican cultural heritage.
Guided gameplay sessions will be available.
Building Community Through LEADS
One of the ways FRCC supports Latinx students and celebrates their leadership is through LEADS—our Latinx Excellence Achievement Development Scholars program.
LEADS supports students through leadership development, mentorship, community building and opportunities to learn from Latinx leaders and professionals in our local communities. Students participate in leadership sessions and discussions, are paired with mentors and develop skills and connections that can support them personally and professionally.
The program has continued to grow since it began in 2013. FRCC’s 2025–2026 cohort was the largest in LEADS history, bringing together students who get the opportunity to build connections with one another and with their mentors.
Students who successfully complete the program requirements also receive a $1,000 scholarship, made possible through the generosity of a local donor from Boulder County.
Expanding LEADS
And the LEADS program is evolving to serve even more students. Beginning with Cohort 13, the program will offer two semester-based cohorts, rather than one:
- Fall 2026: Up to 15 students
- Spring 2027: Up to 15 students
This new format allows LEADS to serve up to 30 students each academic year while providing a more focused experience. Some leadership sessions have also been combined with complementary topics, creating opportunities for engaging discussions while maintaining the program’s leadership learning outcomes.
The Fall 2026 LEADS cohort kicked off on Sept. 11, bringing new students and mentors together to begin another year of leadership development, connection and community.
A Month of Connection and Celebration
Hispanic Heritage Month is not just a collection of events on the campus calendar. It is an opportunity to recognize the diverse cultures and experiences represented within the FRCC community and to create spaces where students feel connected to one another.
Whether it is through LEADS, sharing a family tradition, creating papel picado, playing Loteria, enjoying food and music or gathering with friends and family, there are many ways to celebrate.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, FRCC invites students, faculty and staff to learn something new, share their own experiences and take part in the celebrations happening across our campuses.
