UA News

The day begins with a $10 tailgate party three hours before the California vs. Arizona game.

Arizona Athletics, in partnership with The University of Arizona Hispanic Alumni Club, will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Day at the UA's football game against California on Oct. 18. The event will include festivities to honor Hispanic contributions to the UA and Tucson communities.   

Hispanic Heritage Day activities will begin with a tailgate party at 4 p.m. on the UA Mall west of Cherry Street and north of the main library. Tailgate tickets are $10. Food is provided by El Charro and drinks by Golden Eagle Distributors and Coca-Cola.

In 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week. The observance was expanded to a month-long celebration in 1988. Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and other countries in Latin America.

Richard Miranda, Tucson assistant city manager and retired chief of police, has been named the game's honorary football captain for his contributions to the Tucson community. Miranda managed the Tucson Police Department during a period of rapid growth and led it to national accreditation. He will be recognized for his efforts during halftime.

The UA Hispanic Alumni Club will recognize and honor 105 scholarship awardees during the halftime program. "These awardees, in addition to receiving scholarship funds, are enrolled in the UA Hispanic Alumni retention program. Our mission is to not only help these students financially but to see them through to graduation," said Jose Terán communications officer for the UA Hispanic Alumni Club. The retention program began almost a decade ago and according to Terán has seen a 90 percent graduation success rate.

Other halftime activities include the announcement of a local school district art contest winners. Four winners will be recognized for their artistic efforts to show what the Hispanic/Latino culture means to them.

Music and will also fill the stadium as UA Mariachi Arizona, Mariachi Atzlan de Pueblo High School and Mariachi Groups from Sunnyside High School, Tucson High School and Nogales High School will perform with the Pride of Arizona during halftime. Ballet Folklorico Tapatio, Viva Arizona and UA Grupo Folklorico Miztontli will perform alongside them.

Arizona Athletics reaches out to the Hispanic community year-round though the student-athlete community outreach program. Last year, the student-athletes connected with more than 38,000 people and 73 percent of those individuals were minorities.

Club Arizona, the free club that connects kids with the UA, has more than 500 young members of whom 30 percent are Hispanic. "Through this club, young people learn about what's happening at the UA and have an opportunity to attend several UA sporting events for just $1," said Phoebe Chalk, UA assistant athletics director of community relations.

The UA Hispanic Alumni Club is comprised of accomplished Hispanic graduates and former students of the UA who live throughout the world. Associate memberships are available to non-Hispanic UA graduates, former students and others who support the goals of the organization.

The UA Hispanic Alumni Club was founded in 1982 to promote academic excellence among Hispanic students at the university, provide financial and mentoring support to qualified and deserving students and develop linkages with alumni and supporters in the profession and business community. Since 1986, the organization has awarded 1,500 scholarships worth more than $4 million.