The Hispanic community at the University of Florida represents the largest minority group. To offer a space for students who want to feel connected to their heritage, student organizations host activities and programs that celebrate Latin culture, promote connection and help new and returning students find their place on campus.
In Fall 2024, 21.9% of undergraduate students at the University of Florida identified as Hispanic or Latino, making it the second most represented ethnic group on campus behind white students, who made up 48%, according to data from FloridaShines.
The university houses a wide variety of organizations, from cultural associations and dance clubs to student groups for specific majors and mentorship programs.
The Hispanic Student Association is one of the largest on campus. It functions as an umbrella organization for more than 20 affiliated groups, including cultural clubs, professional associations and artistic collectives. HSA will collaborate with the UF Student Government this year.
Gabriella Garibaldi, the 21-year-old HSA president and a UF behavioral neuroscience senior, said HSA’s main mission is to offer a space where every student feels included.
“Our goal really is to get as many people feeling at home as much as we can,” Garibaldi said.
Among HSA’s regular activities are Familia Fridays at the Institute of Hispanic-Latino Cultures, better known as La Casita, she said. The event acts as a social and study gathering open to all students. The group hosts solidarity sessions run by HSA’s Office of Political Affairs, which are spaces to discuss current events, politics and issues affecting the Latino community.
HSA’s final event of the Fall semester is the Winter Formal, a big celebration to close off the year.
The organization also manages programs like the Mentorship and Leadership Program meant for first- and second-year students and transfer students, which offers professional and social development through mentorship.
In collaboration with HSA is the Hispanic-Latine Student Assembly. It’s a welcoming event for Hispanic and Latin students that is crucial for showing UF students the vibrant Hispanic and Latino community. HLSA introduces students to different cultures, organizations and opportunities available on campus.
This Fall, the event will take place Aug. 27 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom with free admission and food available for attendees. The evening will include a tabling fair with cultural and student organizations, artistic performances and a guest speaker, who will talk about current issues affecting the community.
Hector Collazo, the 21-year-old HLSA executive director and a UF microbiology and cell science and anthropology senior, said HLSA is a space for connection and cultural pride.
“It’s a collaborative event that shows off what the Hispanic community at UF has to offer,” Collazo said.
The goal is for new students to build community the moment they arrive, by finding places where they feel represented and discovering opportunities to get involved throughout the year, he said.
Hispanic-Latine Heritage Month is another organization that celebrates the Hispanic and Latino community. It hosts several events during Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Sept. 15, that celebrate and bring visibility to Hispanic and Latino cultures at UF. With a smaller team in 2025, their focus will be on strengthening collaboration with affiliated organizations and the local community.
Nicole Pantoja, the 21-year-old HLHM external vice president and a UF political science and women’s studies senior, said the organization will do more than just host events; it aims to foster unity and resilience among Hispanic and Latino students.
“We want to emphasize showing up in our spaces without fear and being able to connect with other people, even though a lot of legislation and policies have made our community vulnerable,” Pantoja said.
The HLHM opening ceremony will be Sept. 15, and the closing ceremony will take place Oct. 15. The group will also host a pageant tentatively scheduled for Oct. 2, a formal event where participants present talents, wear traditional attire and celebrate Latin America’s cultural diversity.
Andrea Orozco, a 20-year-old UF chemistry senior, joined HSA in Spring 2025 and participated as a mentor in the MLP program.
“Of all the organizations I’ve participated in, [HSA] has been the one I’ve liked the most,” Orozco said. “I have met many of my friends there, and honestly, my experience here at the university would not have been the same without that organization.”
She recommends new Hispanic students get involved in their first year.
“Participate in everything you can, and don’t wait until your last year,” she said.
Other organizations available are dance clubs like Gator Salsa, which offers free classes Tuesday and Thursday nights in salsa casino, social dancing, salsa on-1 and bachata for all levels.
Jasmine Martinez, the 19-year-old Gator Salsa co-president, emphasized that beyond teaching steps, the club’s goal is to create a safe and supportive space for all participants.
“We have created a community where we are always there to help each other and also to praise each other,” said Martinez.
Chispas allows students to get involved in advocating for their community. It’s a student group that works to defend and support immigrants through community service, education and direct action.
Arly Hernandez, the 21-year-old vice president of internal affairs and a UF health education and behavior senior, said Chispas aims to be a space for action in support of immigrant students, families and allies.
Its initiatives include English and citizenship classes in collaboration with the Latin Women’s League, “Know Your Rights” workshops and the Out of the Shadows essay contest. Created in 2012, the scholarship is awarded to undocumented students, or those with a vulnerable immigration status, in high school or college across Florida.
The organization’s doors are open to the entire university community, Hernandez said, regardless of origin or immigration status.
“We are welcome to anyone,” Hernandez said. “You don’t have to be an immigrant, you can just be an ally. We are open to immigrants from everywhere.”
Contact Candy Fontana-Verde at cfontanaverde@alligator.org. Follow her on X @CandyFontanaV.
