CELEBRATING LATINX HERITAGE MONTH AT EKU

As part of Latinx Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, EKU’s annual Latinx Street Fair attracted its biggest crowd yet. On Oct. 5, 2022, at Powell Plaza, the fair celebrated cultures from all of Latin America. EKU students, the campus community and visiting high school students enjoyed cultural foods, beverages, games, music and dancing as they learned about the diversity of Latinx cultures.

“We need to tell our stories to deconstruct stereotypes,” said Dr. Socorro Zaragoza, Spanish professor. “We are a multiethnic, multiracial and multigenerational group. Not everybody comes from the same place or has the same heritage or the same history.”

Criminal justice and social work major Ursula Esteban, a senior from Lexington, attended the street fair and wants to advocate for Latinx students at EKU.

“I have been a part of the Latino Student Association since my freshman year. Now, I tend to be an advocate for the students on campus. I would like to join more organizations to be involved and to use my voice for Latino students,” said Esteban.

As of fall 2021, over 600 Latinx students were enrolled at EKU, doubling the Latinx population since fall 2014.

Students And Alumni Convene In Italy

Each year, Eastern Kentucky University students travel to Florence, Italy, for an education-abroad experience, and alumni join for a shared portion of the trip. Together, students and alumni enjoy meals, museum tours and interwoven excursions and educational experiences.

When Gary Booth, ’62, and his wife, Jane, ’76, philanthropists and generous EKU supporters, heard about the student education-abroad opportunity, they felt compelled to help.

“Jane and I think it is very important for mountain kids to have a broad view of the world,” Gary said. “Spending time in Europe is a terrific—and exciting—way to do that.”

The Booths donated $20,000 to the Department of Applied Human Sciences for the education-abroad trip. “It’s just such a fabulous mind-expanding opportunity—we couldn’t resist funding that.”

Last June, 11 students traveled to Italy. As a result of the Booth’s and other donors’ support, each student received a scholarship to help with their tuition for the course.

About the education-abroad experience for students, Dr. Dana Bush, professor and associate dean of the College of Education and Applied Human Sciences, said, “It’s what makes your time here at EKU excellent. It’s transformative—learning about other people and other cultures.”