Hispanic Heritage Month Figures

Lin Manuel-Miranda (Ava Vastano)

Lin-Manuel Miranda has acted in and directed many famous films. His most popular films include Hamilton, Tick Tick Boom, Encanto, and The Little Mermaid, which have all made millions of dollars. Miranda is very well known for the soundtracks that he has composed. His most famous songs are “Surface Pressure” from Encanto and “How Far I'll Go” from Moana. His songs have reached the top charts across the world. He is an exceptional Hispanic director, actor, and businessman. He won a Grammy for Best Written Song for Visual Media for the song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” He won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony award for Best Book of a Musical in 2016 for Hamilton. In 2007 he won the Obie Award for Music for In The Heights among many other impressive awards. Miranda is someone who became successful as a result of hard work and dedication, and he is a big inspiration to everyone.

Selena Quintanilla (Lila Onori)

Selena Quintanilla, better known as Selena, was an incredibly beloved Latin singer from Lake Jackson, Texas. Selena was called the “Queen of Tejano Music” throughout her tragically short career, she surpassed many records and earned many achievements, paving the way for the many Latin singers to come. Some of her most notable achievements include becoming the first-ever female Tejano artist to win a Grammy for Best American-Mexican Album, hitting number one on the Billboard Top 200, and becoming one of the best-selling Latin artists ever.

Tragically, Selena was murdered just shy of 24 by close friend and the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldívar. Though her life came to an end, Selena’s legacy continues to live on. In 2021, Selena was awarded the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy Awards. The story of her life has been turned into a movie adaptation and a streaming series on Netflix. Selena left a lasting impression on the Latin music scene and she will continue to influence artists of all genres today.

Ellen Ochoa (Nishika Manjeshwar)

In 1993, American astronaut Ellen Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman to go to space. Ochoa grew up in La Mesa, California, and later attended San Diego State University and Stanford University. She was the first in her family to attend college. She earned a bachelor's degree in physics, and a doctorate and masters in Electrical Engineering, at a time when only about 1 percent of women were engineers. Afterward, she began work at a NASA facility in Santa Clara, California. She created object recognition systems in order to detect imperfections in machinery. In 1990, she began training to become an astronaut, and in 1993, she became the first Latina woman to go to space. She went on one of the Discovery missions and performed atmospheric experiments to study the sun. Later, she became the director of Houston’s Johnson Space Center, becoming the first Latina to hold that position. Through her extensive career, Ochoa has become a trailblazer for Hispanic women and girls, showing them that they could achieve their dreams, no matter how out of this world they may seem.

Dolores Huerta by Gianna Marie Montesclaros

Dolores Huerta, who was born on April 10, 1930, is a prominent and important figure in labor activism and the Chicano civil rights movement. She was born in Dawson, New Mexico, but grew up in California. Huerta was raised by her mother, who was actively involved in community work. Huerta faced discrimination as a student and witnessed her brother being brutally attacked because of racial prejudice. Despite facing these challenges, she decided to pursue a degree in education. She also got married twice and had seven children. Huerta first got involved with activism 1955, when she co-founded the Stockton chapter of the Community Service Organization (CSO) and the Agricultural Workers Association. She fought for economic improvements and for Hispanic voter registration. Huerta later teamed up with César Chávez to establish the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), which later became the United Farm Workers’ Union (UFW). Huerta played an important role in organizing many strikes, advocating for farm workers’ rights, safety, and benefits, and holding boycotts, like the 1960s grape boycott that resulted in better conditions for workers. Her efforts led to the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act in 1975, which encouraged farm workers to join together. She is still working hard for legislative representation and women’s equality. Huerta has received many awards for her contributions and her work is still appreciated to this day. She even talked at College of the Canyons, our nearby community college, on September 19!

Jennifer Lopez (Neha Chakilam)

Jennifer Lopez, often referred to as J.Lo, is an influential Latina music artist and actress. Prior to her success in the music industry, she became the first Hispanic actress to earn $1 million for her lead role as Selena Quintanilla in 1997. J.Lo began her music career in 1999 while debuting her first album On The 6, which quickly reached the top ten in the U.S. She has won four MTV awards and was nominated for both the Oscars and the Grammys. In 2010, she was chosen to be one of the judges in American Idol. Her other notable achievements include being named the world’s most powerful celebrity by Forbes. In 2018, Times included her in their list of 100 most influential people in the world. Lopez launched the Limitless Labs foundation and partnered with the non-profit Grameen America to invest $14 billion in Latina-owned businesses by 2030. Jennifer Lopez has openly embraced her Puerto Rican roots from an early age and continues to do so through her thriving achievements and success.

Cesar Chavez (Samantha Verlaque)

Cesar Chavez (1927-1993) was a highly influential human rights activist who fought for the fair treatment of agricultural workers. Chavez grew up on a farm in Arizona, helping his family in the fields whenever he could. His family suffered financially during the Great Depression, which forced them to become migrant farm workers in California. He was heavily exposed to the harsh treatment the farm workers faced, which prompted him to start his movement. He was greatly inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi to take a nonviolent approach. Chavez was the leader of the Farm Workers Union, where he organized boycotts of food grown by companies who were unfairly treating their workers. When the boycotts started getting attention, Chavez released the Plan of Delano, a document that describes why the poverty that agricultural workers lived in was unjust, and how important it was to fight for their rights. He evoked conversation and gave people a voice. He made it possible for farm workers to have working conditions and wages. Cesar Chavez is an excellent role model who stood up for what was right.

José Andrés (Christina Callo)

José Andrés was born in Mieres, Spain in 1969 where he learned the craft of cooking from his parents. His passion for cooking inspired him to intern at a famous restaurant called El Bulli. In 1991, Andrés decided to move to New York City to work at El Dorado Petit. Eventually, he opened up his own restaurant, Jaleo, with Rob Wilder and Roberto Alvarez. His restaurant became a huge success, and it was the first commercially and critically-acclaimed tapas restaurant in the United States. From there, he took over Cafe Atlantico, opened more restaurant chains of Jaleo, and opened up a new restaurant called Zaytinya. As a result of these accomplishments, Andrés won the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic and the Chef of the Year by Bon Appétit. In 2018, he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work. Andrés was then able to bring Jaleo, é by José Andrés, and China Poblano to Las Vegas. These restaurants still remain some of the best-rated places to eat in Las Vegas. In 2010, Harvard University allowed Andrés to give a lecture on culinary physics as part of their new course on “Science and Cooking.” On top of his amazing cooking skills, Andrés is also known for his humanitarian work since the Haiti earthquake in 2010. He started the World Central Kitchen, where he handed out warm meals to Haitians who were deeply affected by the earthquake. After Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, Andrés was able to provide 3.5 million meals through the World Central Kitchen. In current times, José Andrés still continues to be a culinary icon to help those in poverty and food insecurity.

X González (Tali Cooper)

Born on November 11, 1999, X González, is a 23-year-old American activist and promoter of gun control. They are a survivor of the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that took place in Parkland, Florida. González and a number of their peers at Stoneman Douglas established the gun-control justification group “Never Again MSD” just days after this tragic shooting. They gained national fame after her incredible speech at an anti-gun violence rally on the scarce measures of politicians funded by the National Rifle Association (NRA). Their speech included every victim of the shooting by name, along with respective minutes of silence. In the end, their address lasted 6 minutes and 20 seconds long, corresponding to the time of the Parkland shooting. González continues to advocate for gun control around the world. Furthermore, they helped assemble the March for Our Lives on March 24, 2018, which would become the biggest student protest in the history of America, and made high-profile media advents. X González is a passionate advocate for gun control in society, and they will leave her mark in history for centuries to come.

Sebastian Yatra (Sebastian Ferrario)

Sebastian Obando, more commonly known as Sebastian Yatra, is a Colombian singer-songwriter. Yatra was born in Medellin, Colombia on October 15, 1994. He became popular by mixing classic Latin music with modern music. He moved to Miami at the age of 5 years old, and dreamed of being a soccer player when he was young. However, he soon found his passion for music and made it his career. In 2013, Sebastian released his first ever song called “El Psicológo”. His first hit single was “Traicionera ''. The song has more than half a billion listens. His popularity allowed him to collaborate with other artists, including his collaboration with Carlos Vives, which has over 1 billion views on YouTube. He grew even more popular from his song “Dos Oruguitas” from the movie Encanto, which became the first full Spanish song sung at the Oscars. Since 2022 he has released more hit songs, including Tacones Rojos and Pareja del ano. These songs have become especially popular in the United States. He has won multiple music awards, and has reached millions of listeners across the world.

Dara Torres (Conner Chinn)

Dara Torres is a Cuban-American swimmer who has won 12 career Olympic medals. Born in April 1967, Torres began swimming when she was seven and was immediately seen as a generational talent. She set national age-group records at 12 and won her first national title at 14. The first Olympic Games she participated in was Los Angeles during 1984, and she hadn’t even graduated from high school yet! Torres was able to help the US national team win gold in the 100-meter freestyle race. She participated in two more Olympic Games and won three more medals before joining the broadcast booth for seven years. Torres rejoined the US National team in 2000 and had her most successful campaign yet, earning five separate medals in Australia. After the 2000 Olympics, she gave birth to her daughter Tessa, before once again qualifying for the national team, becoming the oldest swimmer to ever qualify. After the 2008 tournament, where she won three silvers, she retired from competitive swimming and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the US Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame. Torres’ retirement spelled the end for one of the US’s most decorated players, as she finished with 12 medals from five Olympic Games over more than 20 years.

Benjamin Alire Sáenz (Jaden Nakamura)

Born in 1954, Benjamin Alire Sáenz is an author and poet known for his prose, which explores a variety of themes. He left his hometown of Mesilla, New Mexico, to study in Colorado, Belgium, Texas, and Iowa, and received his Ph.D. from Stanford before settling in El Paso, Texas in the ‘90s. When he came out as gay in 2009, he used his passion for writing to help him come to terms with his identity. He became the first Hispanic author to receive the PEN/Faulkner Award for his collection of short stories set in El Paso’s Hispanic community, Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club. One of his most well-known books, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, which follows the close bond between two boys in the ‘80s, recently received a movie adaptation. Both books received Lambda Literary Awards in 2013 in different categories, the Stonewall Book Award, and a dozen other accolades.

Frida Kahlo (Molly Mickel)

Frida Kahlo was one of the most influential Mexican artists of the 20th century. Born in 1907 to an artistic family, her father, Guillermo Kahlo, was an artist-photographer by profession and sparked Kahlo’s interest in art from a young age. Throughout her artistic career, Frida Kahlo has captured some of her most significant life experiences and conveyed her emotions onto canvas. Kahlo dealt with many challenges in her life, including depression and her disabilities. Her art represented her identity and what was important to her. Kahlo was also a proud feminist and was constantly at the forefront of the movement. Despite the harsh gender inequality during her time, she was an incredibly strong woman who did not cower in the face of opposition. Many of her paintings brought light to females and their struggles. She chose to portray raw, yet integral experiences that affected everyday women. Throughout her life, Frida Kahlo was authentically herself, although this came with much discrimination and judgment. She had modern views on sexuality and embraced her own bisexuality. Although Kahlo faced numerous hardships throughout her life, she has made huge impacts within the Hispanic Community, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and the disabled community. Despite her tragically young death, she continues to be a figure of courage and empowerment, whom people will continue to look up to.

Berta Cáceres (Dylan Fitzsimons)

Born in 1977, Berta Cáceres was an indigenous Lenca woman from Honduras, who grew up in Central America during a time of violence in the 1980s. She learned to help downtrodden people from her mother, who cared for refugees from El Salvador. As a student activist, she helped form the National Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) in 1993 to combat threats to Lenca communities from illegal logging and preserve their territories. After a coup in 2009, there was a boom of environmentally destructive megaprojects in Honduras, which encroached on indigenous communities. The Agua Zarca Dam of the company DESA was to be constructed on the spiritual Gualcarque River without consulting the Lecna, violating international treaties on the rights of indigenous people. It would cut off their access to food, water, and medicine. Berta campaigned against the dam, filing complaints with authorities, creating a local assembly to vote against the construction, and reaching out to the Inter-American Human Rights Commission. In 2013, Berta organized a road blockade to prevent access to the site for over a year. Security contractors and armed Honduran forces violently tried to break up the protestors. Berta received death threats until she was tragically killed by a gunman in March 2016. These deaths sparked international outrage and a Honduran court in 2018 ruled DESA executives killed Berta. Seven men were found guilty of murder and given 30-50 years in prison. Berta is remembered for dedicating her life to protecting the environment and fighting for the human rights of the Lenca people. In 2015, she received the Goldman Environmental Prize for her successful campaign against the Agua Zarca dam. Fellow COPINH activists continue her legacy by fighting irresponsible development.

Rita Moreno (Sophia SanMartin)

Rita Moreno, or Rose Dolores Alverio, was born on December 11, 1931, in Puerto Rico where she was raised on a farm until the age of 5. In 1936, she came to the United States, specifically Manhattan, and she could not speak a single word of English. At age 11, Moreno was hired to record the Spanish versions of American films, and soon after, she debuted on Broadway at 13 years old as the character “Angelina” in Skydrift. Her role in this play captured the attention of important directors and agencies, where she was signed by Louis B. Mayer of MGM to a contract for 7 years. Soon after she received a role in the film, “So Young, So Bad”. Moreno was the first Hispanic woman to win an Oscar, which was for her role of Anita in “West Side Story”. Rita Moreno was an extremely influential Hispanic figure, and she inspired a large number of Latinas and young women of other ethnicities. She broke gender and racial stereotypes as an actress of color and was even honored with a Presidential Medal of Freedom for her significant additions to the arts.

Evelyn Cisneros (Surabhi Humbe)

Most famously known for being the first Mexican-American prima ballerina, Evelyn Cisneros began her ballet career at the mere age of eight years old. After seeing the Bolshoi Ballet perform Swan Lake with her family, she quickly set her sights on a career in ballet. After accepting a scholarship to the School of American Ballet’s Summer Course, she was offered an apprenticeship position in the San Francisco Ballet. Despite facing discrimination for being Hispanic, often being told to wear lighter make-up to fit in with the other dancers, Cisneros was motivated to become the best. She worked tirelessly to rise in the company’s ranks, eventually attaining the position of principal dancer. Cisneros worked for the San Francisco Ballet for 23 years, collecting a number of prestigious roles under her belt, including Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Theme and Variations, Cinderella, and many others. Now retired, Cisneros happily spends her day teaching students as the director of The Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy.

Sophia Vergara (Alexia Armienta)

Sophia Vergara is a Colombian actress who immigrated to the United States as a teenager and has since made lasting impacts for all Hispanic women in Hollywood. Since immigrating from Columbia, the actress has appeared in many shows, but is best known for her role in the beloved TV series Modern Family. The show has not only brought laughs to its fans, but displayed Vergara’s charisma in the show. Her achievements go beyond the entertainment world, however, with her other business ventures including a line of fragrances, clothing, and even furniture. Vergara is also an outspoken advocate for health rights in underprivileged communities in both Colombia and the United States. Her journey from Colombia and overall love for the country show resilience and perseverance. She has shown that anyone can do anything they set their minds to. With her undeniable charm, Vergara proudly represents Hispanic culture, and stands tall as an empowering figure for all Hispanic Americans in the entertainment industry.

(Sonia Sotomayor (Claire Takahashi)

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who has served on the Supreme Court for 14 years, is a champion of justice in the United States. From growing up in a single-parent home in the Bronx, to graduating from Princeton and Yale Law, to becoming the first Latina justice on the Supreme Court, she has continually worked to represent and speak out for women's rights, and be a voice for minority communities. She is a perfect example of how the American dream is for everybody. Throughout her career, Sotomayor has utilized her wide understanding of legal doctrine to help bring victims to justice. . She always digs deep into issues and takes into account the impact it has on individuals' daily lives. She digs to the core of issues and asks the hard questions. Sotomayor has become an integral figure in the American political landscape, and continues to inspire young Latinas to pursue their dreams.

Sandra Cisneros (Sophia Venable)

Sandra Cisneros is a Mexican-American writer, poet, and artist, best known for her popular first novel, The House on Mango Street. Born on December 20, 1954 in Chicago Illinois, Cisneros was the third of seven children and the only surviving daughter in her family. She grew up in poverty, and her father constantly moved her family around between Chicago and Mexico, which led to her attending different schools each year. During high school, Cisneros attended Josephinum Academy, a Catholic girls school. She was inspired by one of her teachers to write poems about her interests, and this sparked her love for writing. She quickly became well-known for her writing throughout high school. Although she was editor of her school’s literary magazine and an avid poet in her teenage years, her admiration for creative writing did not begin until she took her first college class in 1974. She later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Loyola University Chicago and went on to receive her Master of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Iowa. After attending many writer’s workshops at the University of Iowa, Cisneros learned to draw on experiences from her background as a Chicana woman to create her stories. She took inspiration from Southwestern and Mexican popular culture and city life, as well as her experience as a woman and the experiences of marginalized communities to write several of her novels. Some of her most notable works include The House on Mango Street, My Wicked, Wicked Ways, Woman Hollering Creek, and Caramelo. Later in her career, Cisneros started a job as a teacher at the Latino Youth High School in Chicago, teaching former high school dropouts. Her success from The House on Mango Street led her to teach several creative writing classes at other schools, including the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Michigan. Through her work with the Alfred Cisneros del Moral Foundation and the Macondo Foundation, Cisneros has inspired Chicano writers to pursue their passions and follow their dreams. Since 2007, her foundation has awarded more than $75,500 to writers born, raised, or living in Texas. Cisneros continues to write poems and stories, and she hopes to publish new works soon.

Julia Alvarez (Roy Gharzeddine)

Julia Alvarez is a famous poet, novelist, and essayist. Born on March 27, 1950, Julia grew up in New York City. Growing up, Julia was the second of the four girls. Julia was most known for her novel How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents and In the Time of the Butterflies. She earned her undergraduate degree from Middlebury College and a masters degree in creative writing from Syracuse University. . Julia illustrates all her past and present experiences throughout her lifetime. She symbolizes writing. Julia earned the Pura Belpre Award for Writing in 2004, and 2010. She also won an Americas Award for Young Readers. She was one of the first Latina authors to write books for mainstream consumption. . She inspired many other young and aspiring Latinas to pursue their passions. . Julia is living happily in Vermont with her beloved husband Bill Eichner. Julia still currently writes at Middlebury College, and hopes to educate the youth.

Roberto Clemente (Kevin McGinley)

Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker was born on August 18, 1934, in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Growing up, Roberto always had an affinity for baseball. A natural talent in high school, he was signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers’ minor league team, the Montreal Royals. One year later, Roberto Clemente was making waves. The young baseball player who dreamed of major leagues got his wish granted, and played his opening season for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955. While Roberto was a natural talent, his baseball career wasn't all smooth sailing. During this time in America where racism and prejudice were prevalent, Roberto fought racial injustice often. Even with a language barrier, Roberto wouldn't be stopped. He spoke out against the racist practices within the MLB, and actively preached for human rights. Roberto also suffered multiple injuries hindering his season with the Pirates. In 1960, Roberto flipped a switch in his career, achieving a batting average of .314, with 16 home runs, leading the Pirates to win the World Series. Roberto only got better. The following year, he hit 23 home runs, and eventually went on to win 12 consecutive Golden Glove Awards. As his career progressed, Clemente became known as one of the best all-around baseball players in the MLB. Tragically, Roberto Clemente passed away on December 31, 1972 while transporting supplies to survivors of an earthquake in Nicaragua. Today, Roberto Clemente is remembered as one of the most dominant players in baseball history, being the first Latino to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.