By Ana Salgado, Apr. 17, 2022
The Cesar E. Chavez Center for Higher Education hosted its first in-person extensive event titled “Noche de Fiesta,” meaning “night of party,” on April 14 in the University Quad. The event was a collaboration with the Mexican American Student Association Center to host a spring scavenger hunt.
The event focused on celebrating the campus community’s success with free food, music, games, photo booth, deserts and a spring hunt as the end of the academic school year approached.
“At the beginning of this semester we weren’t sure about the cases of COVID, but now that it isn’t required to mandate mask, my team and I decided to put the event together and bring some light to the darkness being locked up and not having nothing happen in person,” said Omar Lunar, the event planner for this event and assistant coordinator for CECCHE. “The idea of having something in person for the first time in two years, we wanted to make this happen for students to have that experience of having something in person, especially those who will be graduating.”
Twenty minutes into the event, Lunar took the stage and made an introduction on the event and what would also be available to the attendees. He also expressed how excited he was to see many at the event after not experiencing it over the last two years.
As attendees tuned in and danced on the dance floor, Lunar announced that free food would be available. They served all a plate of Spanish rice, black beans, a choice of chicken or beef, chips with salsa, guacamole, “aguas frescas,” or “fresh drinks,” ice cream and delicious esquites, which is toasted corn.
Daniella De La Torre, psychology student, was there to make new friends while she enjoyed a delicious meal. She described how thrilled she was about the scavenger hunt.
“Since I live here on campus, I heard there was going to be an egg hunt. That was the main thing I came for,” shared De La Torre. “I also knew there was going to be food and fun activities to make friends, and I am always open to that.”
After the meal, the scavenger hunt followed with winning prizes such as Mexican treats and the most coveted prize a squishy cow. As many searched for Easter eggs, the excitement rolled over in finding the golden egg that turned out to be forgotten back in the center when hiding the eggs.
After the challenged excitement in musical chairs the event ended in a “grito,” meaning a Mexican “yell,” contest as students competed for a Hydro Flask. Attendees cheered at the end making a memorable night for the campus community.
“Being Mexican-American, I am really happy that Cal Poly Pomona is making more diverse events for everyone to fit in and to just have fun with one another,” said criminology student Karina Jimenez. “It also seems pretty fun, and I am excited for sure, and I am also excited for the food because free food is always great.”
Students interested in assisting either CECCHE and MASA events can visit both CECCHE and MASA website for information and registration.
Feature image by Ana Salgado