One of Fort Hamilton’s newest clubs, the Spanish Language & Hispanic Culture Club (SLHCC), rose to success after being created in March of 2024. The club was created by students who approached Mr. Mendoza in hopes of “bring[ing] a stronger sense of connectivity and knowledge to the Hispanic and Latino communities,” according to the club’s co-founder and president, Christian Williams. Founding members wanted to “[provide] a platform for students who wouldn’t fit into those categories to learn about the culture and the language that the e-board truly loves.”
A typical SLHCC meeting involves games that originated and are played in Latin countries. One such game is the Mexican board game Lotería, which is similar to Bingo. Lotería is a game of chance, but images replace the numbers that would be found on a Bingo card. Someone will call out what is on the card in Spanish while the players match the card to the images on their board.
Mr. Mendoza sees much potential in this club because of all the cultural elements. He believes that the club can “infuse Hispanic culture with the American mainstream” and is proud that the club has “created an environment for those who already have Hispanic heritage.” In the future, he would like to see the club performing in the Multicultural Festival “and continue to maintain a space where students can express themselves and learn more about Hispanic cultures.”
Soon, SLHCC hopes to visit a Mexican restaurant or a Hispanic museum.
“This trip would most likely be in collaboration with the Chicano Club,” the club’s e-board told The Pilot. “Even looking into next year, we have more activities planned to keep the Fort Hamilton community immersed in Hispanic Culture. Next year, we plan to get ahead of time and start practicing slightly earlier than most in an effort for the performance in the Multicultural festival. We also want pen pals in Spanish-speaking countries to practice writing and to understand what life is like in places like those.”
Students at Fort Hamilton are thankful for the club. “The club is entertaining, and it is nice to see my friends [and] classmates have an excellent time hosting their club,” said club member Emily Guo, who looks forward to the trips the club would like to plan in the future and enjoys the snacks SLHCC provides each meeting.
Christian Williams created this club to bring “a stronger sense of connectivity and knowledge to the Hispanic and Latino communities.”
“Our club is a success, and that is what I expected,” he said. “The whole world of clubs is honestly new to me because I have been more of a sportsperson in recent years.”
Anyone who wants to attend a club meeting can find it in room 858 on Fridays, during 10th period.
