Capitol Tech Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

From September 15 to October 15 each year, millions of people across the United States celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Started in 1968, National Hispanic Heritage Month began as a weeklong celebration under President Lyndon B.  Johnson. The holiday became a full 30-day celebration 20 years later when President Ronald Reagan passed Public Law 100-402 declaring the month-long celebration a national holiday on August 17, 1988₁.

It may seem strange to have a month-long celebration begin in the middle of one month and extend into the middle of the following month, but there is a reason for this–September 15 is of great significance to Latin American countries. On September 15, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, all received their independence from colonizing entities. Following these Latin American countries, Mexico received its independence on September 16 and Chile became independent on September 18₁.

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we will post blogs in honor of all of the great STEM contributors with Hispanic heritage as part of a month-long series of profiles about Hispanic STEM innovators. Click here to read an interview with Ana Sol Gutierrez, Capitol Tech Board of Trustees Member and former Maryland Delegate, or click here to read an interview with Haden Land, Chairmen of Capitol Tech's Board.

References

1. National Hispanic Heritage Month. About National Hispanic Heritage Month. Retrieved from https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about/.