NewsWire

Students from the Memorial High School Ballet Folklorico perform the Jarabe de Colima dance at Fiesta Day last year. This year’s event is scheduled May 1.

The daylong event will feature dancing, singing, food and valuable information about getting a quality education, said Daniel Ochoa, director of UHV’s Letting Education Achieve Dreams outreach program, which is organizing the event.

“Fiesta Day is an opportunity to bring students and their parents to the UHV campus in a fun and relaxed environment,” Ochoa said. “Our goal is to provide information to students while at the same time celebrating their cultural heritage and fostering a sense of pride and self-esteem within them.”

Special guest Jesus “Chuy” Negrete will entertain students at 10 a.m. with tales from Mexican-American history told through poetry, song, oral history and a little help from his guitar. Negrete is the founder and director of the Mexican Cultural Institute in Chicago. His visit is sponsored by the Bloomington Independent School District.

The event also will include performances by Folklorico Tradicional and the Patti Welder Ballet Folklorico dance organizations in the afternoon.

Students also can get information about how to attend UHV and The Victoria College, and information about student organizations at both institutions.

Lunch will be available from student organization vendors serving treats like arroz con pollo, carne guisada tacos and beans, and soft drinks.

The event also will include vendors selling ceramic art, Mother's Day corsages, homemade crafts and mosaic tile art.

For more information, call the LEAD office at 361-570-4893.