By Bridgette Estrada, May 5, 2026
Latino music played as Cal Poly Pomona students celebrated their heritage and the Mexican American Student Association’s 55th anniversary, al estilo MASAñera (to the sound of a La Chona).
MASA, established at CPP in 1970, is a space where Mexican-American students can connect with their culture while building community on campus, according to myBAR.
According to CPP’s myBAR, its mission is to assist Latino communities in reaching high academic standards by providing resources, mentorship and support to increase graduation rates.
Victoria Morales, a Chicano studies and psychology student and MASA’s current president, said the club slowed down after COVID-19, and 2025 was the year they began working to rebuild the movement and activities within the MASA community.
Morales, who will graduate this spring, said she hopes to see more collaborations and further establish connections within the next two to three years.
“Next year, we really hope to rebuild alumni connections,” Morales said. “Like I mentioned, a lot of alumni are coming here tonight, so we really want more connections with them, along with collaborating with other schools and other Latino organizations.”
This year marked the first time MASA celebrated its anniversary by hosting a MASAñera, a concept inspired by a Hispanic or Latino quinceañera, a traditional celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday.
The highlight of the night was welcoming CPP alumni, according to Kiara Contreras, a manufacturing engineering student.
“We have a lot of alumni coming out, which we are glad to see,” Contreras said. “We love to see alumni coming back. We also have a lot of members, so it’s good to see the community and our people coming together and having a fun time.”
A table was reserved for CPP alumni, where they gathered and talked among themselves.
Alumna Christina Trejo, class of ‘87, assisted the MASAñera alongside her husband Patrick Trejo, who is also a CPP alumnus.
“We are here to support the MASA club, and we used to hang out there too when we were students,” Trejo said.
Student outreach is another purpose of hosting the MASAñera. The celebration also created an opportunity for casual recruitment of new students to join the club.
Samantha Solis, a political science student, attended the event with the company of her friend.
“I came across the page on Instagram, and it seems like a really nice and welcoming community, and I think I’d like to be part of that,” Solis said.
MASA members graduating this year received their MASA sashes and took photos in the garden area of the Kellogg House where the event was held.
White tablecloths and burgundy accessories adorned the celebration layout, while bistro lights hung across the garden, lighting the view of the freeway below the mountaintop.
As the sun set and the night began, the CPP alumni said their goodbyes while students filled the dance floor dancing to the DJ sounds of traditional Mexican music.
The night took its course and led the way to the end of the first-time MASAñera.
Feature image courtesy of Bridgette Estrada
