With Hispanic Heritage having started on September 15, the Academy of the Holy Names Spanish Club held their annual Hispanic Heritage Presentation on September 23 as a commencement to the National celebration.

The presentation contained multiple facets of the Hispanic background, from an interactive game of “Guess The Spanish Singer!” with Melina Gerlisky (’25) singing “Vivir Mi Vida” by Marc Anthony to then Cassidy Forte (’25) creating her own dance routine inspired from the several forms of Hispanic dances.

Academy alum Janet Claire Trapuzzano (’98) had also participated in the celebration. Trapuzzano had detailed of her life in college, and the ultimate event that would forever change her life. After having a horrific accident in where her left arm was amputated, Trapuzzano had to struggle with a new reality: how to carry on with one less arm. The accident had left her to navigate on what to do with her life, leading her to discover greater opportunities, including her time on being “So You Think You Can Dance”. Even through the trauma, Trapuzzano was able to turn a negative event into ultimately being positive as it led her to discover her passion in working at a medical supply company that helps to administer prosthetics. In ending her speech, Trapuzzano shared an impactful message with the students at Academy: “You can’t really control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond to it.”

As busy as life at Academy can get for high school students, it is important to reaffirm the diversity within the student body, allowing for a tighter knit community. With bringing light to the unique aspects of students, including their ethnic backgrounds, it allows for the encouragement of “acceptance and helps prepare students to thrive in an exponentially diverse world.” Through the Hispanic Heritage Presentation, Academy instills a sense of unity within the student body, something the world needs more.