An abundance of laughter and conversation in English and Spanish filled the air of Willard Straight Hall’s Memorial Room on October 18, 2024, as guests enjoyed dinner catered by Catering by Beacon Events Catering. The ambiance turned musical with a perfomance by Mariachi Regional en Cornell University, followed by dance performances from Salsa Pa’lante and Sabor Latino Dance Ensemble. Organized by the Unity Dinner Planning Committee, this annual tradition allowed students to plan this year’s event around the theme of “Nuestra Voz es Nuestra Fortaleza” (Our Voice is Our Strength), a theme “symbolic of what the Unity Dinner represents,” as stated by LSP Intern and Committee Member Shaunjae Suarez ‘26.
Throughout the semester, the committee met and planned a bountiful and unifying program. Shaunjae Suarez '26, alongside fellow Sabor Latino member Heily Gonzalez ‘26, were the masters of ceremony, making people laugh while introducing speakers. Professor Maria Cristina Garcia, Director of Latina/o Studies, addressed the audience with opening and closing remarks and passed the microphone to the evenings keynote speaker, Dr. Evelyn Ambriz ‘11 and ‘15.
Dr. Ambriz received a B.S. in Development Sociology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and a M.P.A. concentrating in Social Policy with a minor in Latina/o Studies from Cornell. She went on to receive a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Texas at Austin in 2022. Today Dr. Ambriz is a postdoc, for the Cornell Graduate School’s Bouchet Honor Society, working to implement inclusive mentoring frameworks and accessibility in graduate education.
Her resume, although impressive, was not the focus of her speech at the dinner, emphasizing that achieving such academic feats had no precedent in her family or her local community. In a recent LinkedIn post, Dr. Ambriz shared a clip of her speech at the dinner and reflected on her remarks, noting how being a keynote speaker was a “full circle moment… having attended as an undergraduate student, masters degree student, student advisor and assistant dean, and finally as the academic I've worked to become over decades.”
Her remarks on Linkedin align with themes mentioned in the keynote address: sharing stories in the current sociopolitical climate is more imperative than ever, especially as part of the “One percent of Latinas who have a doctorate.” Some audience members shed tears as she emphasized her quest to “honor my ancestras who didn't have an opportunity to engage in education or be assertive and the full version of their chingona selves.”
Dr. Ambriz’s powerful words left a lasting impact on students. Angelica Ochoa ‘27 shared how Dr. Ambriz’s speech was the most memorable part of the evening, inspiring a deeper sense of community and belonging in academia. Shaunjae Suarez '26 echoed Ochoa’s sentiment, highlighting his favorite moment: “listening to the keynote speaker.”
The most memorable moment for Shaunjae Suarez '26 was dancing for Sabor Latino. He also emphasized that people in the community should go to the Unity Dinner for the “great food” and take advantage of the moment, as the dinner is a “cute event to dress up for.”
Meanwhile, Angelica Ochoa '27 shared that people should go to the Unity Dinner in the future “if they want to feel empowered by a strong group of Latinos that are looking to inspire and motivate you on your difficult journey through college.” Ochoa also elaborated on the importance of community in the face of adversity: “We must carry the theme with us through any difficult experiences we face and remember that we can overcome anything as long as we put our minds to it.”
Not only did the planning committee create a sold-out dinner and program where everyone felt they had a voice, but doing so allowed students on the committee to enjoy their local community. Graduating senior Sherla Zhagnay ‘25 shared that people should attend the dinner for the “community,” and when she graduates, she is “going to miss the people working to make [the Unity Dinner] happen” the most.
A special thanks to the Latinx Unity Dinner Committee Chair, Enrique Cruz-Amigon, committee members Carolina Montejo, Maria Lima Valdez, Gio Rodriguez, Sherla Zhagnay, Angel Escamilla, Daniela Rojas, Juan Jaimes Costilla, Ricky Boche, and Azucena Ortega.
Photographers Juan Jaimes Costilla, Associate Dean of Students/Director of Latinx Student Empowerment and LSP student communication intern, Dani Rojas '25 captured the moment throughout the evening. Photos from the event are available on our Facebook Page .
