New Hispanic Student Association Launched at Bowie State

Organization Strives to Educate Campus Community About Hispanic Culture

MEDIA CONTACT: Elijah Taylor, [email protected]

(BOWIE, Md.) - The Hispanic Student Association (HSA) at Bowie State University, launched this semester by Ingrid Portillo, is fostering unity and collaboration on campus by welcoming students from all backgrounds while focusing on education, service, and bridging cultural gaps.

"The HSA club has 90 members and we're already bringing many communities and cultures together," Portillo shared. "We are clear on educating everyone about Hispanic culture and what it really means to be Hispanic."

Throughout the year, HSA will host a variety of events aimed at both education and community building. One of their recent initiatives focused on civic engagement. 

"We had a voter education event where we talked about the importance of voting as a Hispanic community and as minorities as a whole," said Portillo. These events reflect the club's commitment to empowerment through education and action."

Portillo, who has been at Bowie State for four years, expressed the challenges she initially faced finding a sense of belonging at a historically Black university (HBCU). 

"Raíces, a Hispanic student club, ended during my sophomore year. Because of that, I didn't always feel welcome in these spaces," she said. Recognizing the need for representation, she emphasized the importance of uniting students across cultures. "To even have the Hispanic presence on campus, we need to bridge the gap between cultures," she said.

HSA's leadership team reflects its dedication to intersectionality, with members from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

"Our secretary is Afro-Latinx, so that intersectionality is very important to us," Portillo said, highlighting how cultural connections between Hispanic and Black communities have historically supported each other. 

Portillo hopes HSA inspires more cooperation and partnering between organizations on campus. "Bowie State, be open to change, be open to education, and never judge a book by its cover; you can learn so much."

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About Bowie State University
Founded in 1865, Bowie State University is the first Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in Maryland and one of the ten oldest in the country. As a leading institution of higher learning, Bowie State offers more than 65 bachelor's, master's, doctoral and certificate programs across arts and sciences, technology, business, education, healthcare and related disciplines. The university provides high-quality and affordable educational opportunities in a supportive environment that empowers students to think critically, make new discoveries, value differences and emerge as leaders in a highly technical, rapidly changing global society. For more information about Bowie State University, visit bowiestate.edu.

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