The Hispanic Association for Cultural Enrichment at Rice (HACER) is commemorating its 50th anniversary with a gala at the River Oaks Country Club Nov. 5.
Raíces A Ramas: Cincuenta Años Gala will celebrate Latino culture on campus while raising money to boost Latin American programs and events. A VIP reception starts at 6:30 p.m. and dinner follows at 7 p.m.
The evening will highlight University Professor Richard Tapia — a founding member of the Rice Association of Mexican American Students, which later became HACER — and his lasting legacy. Tapia is the Maxfield-Oshman Chair in Engineering, professor of computational applied mathematics and operations research and director of the Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity.
Oscar-nominated composer and Shepherd School alumna Germaine Franco ’84 will serve as the keynote speaker. Franco plans to speak about developing a craft, relying on the community for support and opening doors for others.
“Rice reflects Houston’s and the country’s population,” said Medina, director of multicultural community relations in Rice’s Office of Public Affairs and an honorary co-chair for the gala. “This is very important to the university because hosting a wealth of diversity brings in several points of views. The culture, the language, the arts, the music … it all exposes students to various cultures.”
Other honorary co-chairs for the gala are Sofia Androgué ’88 and SOLAR president and chair Fernanda Pierre ’14.
Androgué said she’s honored to join in a “toast to our Rice community by embracing diversity and tolerance in recognition of our responsibility to level life’s playing field and serve as creators not only of knowledge, but also of opportunity and equality.”
RAMAS, founded by Tapia and more than a dozen other members in 1972, evolved to become the Hispanic Association for Cultural Enhancement at Rice. It served as the genesis for the five other Rice Latinx and Hispanic student organizations that exist today: The Latin American Graduate Student Association, the university’s chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Latin Business Student Association, Mariachi Luna Llena, and Rice Salseros.
Proceeds from the gala will help create an endowment for HACER, which will use the funds for sponsoring events and outreach programs.
“HACER has been important in cultivating a sense of belonging for Latinx and Hispanic students, especially for our first-generation college students who are more at risk for feelings of isolation,” Pierre said. “Furthermore, HACER's programming helps strengthen the cultural competency of everyone in the larger Rice community.”
SOLAR, a Hispanic alumni group associated with Rice, will present the fundraiser.
“Hispanics are about 20% of the population at Rice now, and that's historic for Rice,” Medina said. “We're all part of the mosaic to create this great, diverse university.”
To learn more about the event, visit alumni.rice.edu/raices-ramas#Gala.