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Mostly Cloudy Salvadoran ‘Pride’ for Hispanic Heritage Month essayist
West Hempstead student among the four runners-up
Each year, Altice – the parent company of Optimum – invites students across the company’s 21-state corporate footprint to participate in their Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest.
Students from all walks of life are invited to share – in 500 words or less – what being Latino or Hispanic means to them. (Although the words “Latino” and “Hispanic” are often used interchangeably, there is a distinction: “Hispanic” refers to individuals who come from a Spanish-speaking country, regardless of geography, while “Latino” refers to individuals whose origins are from Spanish-speaking countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.)
And while the task seems simple, at first glance, it can prove to be quite Herculean for those who wish to accept the challenge. How, really, can one condense their entire life experience of being Latino, or Hispanic, into 500 words?
Students who enter the competition, though, find the competition to be rewarding on every level, regardless of whether they win.
That, at least, was the case for Salvadoran-American Henry Ortiz, a West Hempstead Secondary School student who was a runner-up in this year’s competition.
“Being Hispanic is such a beautiful thing and I am so glad to call this culture my own,” he said in his essay. “Culture has allowed me to connect with other people of the same culture and also talk and learn more about my culture. The learning and expression of culture never ends for me.”
Though Diaz didn’t take home one of the four $3,000 grand prize scholarships, Altice was still thrilled to host the competition.
“Optimum is proud to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month through our annual student essay contest, which champions diversity and the positive contributions that Hispanics and Hispanic culture has brought to the communities where our customers and employees live and work,” said Vic Pascarelli, Vice President, General Manager of Optimum Northeast, to the Herald. “We thank all the students who submitted thoughtful and inspiring entries, including Henry, who shared a beautiful piece on his experience being born and raised in a Hispanic family following his parents’ immigration to the United States from El Salvador. Congratulations to our four grand prize winners and runners-up!”
