Club Spotlight - Association of Latinx American Students
Association of Latinx American Students board members, are shown from left: Sophia Carranza '28 (treasurer), Eddie Diaz '26 (community service chair), Mia Sanguino '26 (vice president), Zayury Ponce '26 (president), Daylene Marin '26(social media chair), and Juliana Llaurado '26 (secretary).In an occasional series, Royal News spotlights clubs from the university’s 100+ student organizations on campus, speaks to members and offers information on how to connect with the clubs.
To suggest a club for a future Royal News article, to share ideas or to inform us of any upcoming club events, please email RoyalNews@scranton.edu or Elizabeth.vanderneut@scranton.edu.
By: Elizabeth Vander Neut, student correspondent
GET INVOLVED
Club: Association of Latinx American Students (ALAS)
Meet: Zayury Ponce '26, shown, is a psychology and economics major from Astoria, NY.
Role in the Club: President
Connect: @uofs_alas
Q: Your club is one of many extracurricular opportunities at The University of Scranton. How does Association of Latinx American Students (ALAS) stand out?
ALAS stands out because it focuses on building a community on campus, not just for Latin American students, but for all its members. ALAS aims to enhance the Scranton community through events, creating cultural awareness, and sharing the diversity that lives within the Latin community. We are an extracurricular that can cater to many.
Q: How will ALAS be celebrating Hispanic/Latinx Heritage month? Any collaborations with other clubs or the Multicultural Center?
ALAS will be collaborating with other cultural clubs (UCO and SSAP) throughout the Hispanic Heritage Month, as well as the Multicultural Center. We will also host our annual event, Loteria Night, at the end of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Q: How has participating in ALAS benefited your experience at the University? What advice can you share with incoming students on participating in the organization?
Joining ALAS allowed me to find lifelong mentors and friends. It also allowed me to reconnect with my culture while finding a balance between the two cultures I have grown up in. To incoming students, your participation in ALAS could be whatever you want it to be, whether it’s attending events because you miss the food at home, you want to learn about a culture outside of your own, or you are interested in meeting people of a similar background to yours. I speak from experience when I say that a lot of the people in our club also look to support and empower one another, Putting yourself out there is probably the biggest piece of advice I can stress, and try new things! Latin American culture is so rich and diverse that you never know what you don’t know.
Q: Why did you join the club? Why would you recommend someone join?
I joined ALAS in the fall of my freshman year. At the time, it was called The Spanish Cultural Society. I joined it simply because I speak Spanish, and I first heard about it during Latin Dance Night. I attended the first meeting and met some amazing people. I’m a first-gen student and had a million questions my freshman year. During one of the activities, I was chatting with a junior, at the time, who was also a cabinet member, and she sat with me and answered almost all the questions I had. Everyone was super welcoming and kind, which really stood out to me. I recommend that someone join if they are interested in finding a community on campus. in connecting with Latin American culture.
Q: What is the mission of ALAS?
The mission of ALAS is to represent the rich diversity of Latin American culture present within the University of Scranton while also uniting and empowering Latin American students and those interested in learning about Latin America and the Caribbean. This is done through events and programs that showcase Latin Culture.
Q: What, in your opinion, are the most exciting events or activities you present as a club?
I think our most exciting events are El Carnaval and any meeting that has our members interacting with one another. El Carnaval is our annual event that we host in the spring, and it is inspired by the carnival that is held in Brazil. This is an open on-campus event. We have a wide range of activities (mini golf, piñatas, and arts and crafts) and food. I also personally find Latin Dance night very exciting; the energy is always high and exciting. Everyone always comes out ready to dance and learn new dances.
Q: Please share the format of a typical meeting. How can someone who is interested find out more about these meetings?
Typically, ALAS meets on Tuesdays. We host our meetings in either the DeNaples ballroom or the Rose room. We tend to have food at our meetings. We discuss a wide range of topics, from goings-on within the Latin community, service opportunities, and events on campus. We also always have an activity to engage our members. For example, we will host trivia nights, karaoke nights, or mini-Olympics. Anyone interested should join ALAS on Royal Sync (for our email list) or follow us on Instagram @uofs_alas to stay up to date!
Q: Any upcoming club plans for the fall semester?
Yes! We have a collaborative meeting with UCO (United Cultures Organization) on Sept. 25, and another collaboration with the multicultural center and SSAP (Scranton Student Association of the Philippines) on Sept. 8. On top of that, we will be hosting our Latin dance night later in the semester and Loteria Night.
