Whittier College alumnus Victor Griego, Jr. ’78 will be inducted into the College's Latino alumni group Alianza de Los Amigos Hall of Fame at the upcoming 44th Annual Tardeada – a celebration of Latino culture and heritage. This event will highlight traditional Latin American dishes, music, and dance from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Tardeada will take place on Sunday, October 25 at 4p.m. in the Campus Center Courtyard, 7214 Painter Avenue, Whittier, CA.
Entertainment will include live performances from mariachi, folklorico, and Whittier College students. Over the past four decades Tardeada has become an essential community-building event at the College, providing an afternoon of inter-generational activities and fun for the entire student body, faculty, alumni, and families. Dinner is $12 at the door. For more information, contact Luz Maria Galbreath, director of the Ortiz Program at 562.907-4962.
The Hall of Fame is designed to honor outstanding Latino alumni for contributions to the community and the College. Griego, this year’s inductee, is nationally-recognized for being a successful strategist. With 25 years of experience in political and community coordination, one of Griego’s accomplishments includes founding Diverse Strategies for Organizing, a firm that focuses on government and community relation campaigns. A member of the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation and fellow of the U.S. Hispanic Congressional Caucus, Victor serves on several boards and focuses particularly on the Latino community.
Tardeada was established in 1971 by the late Martin Ortiz ’48, founder of the Center of Mexican American Affairs which was renamed the Ortiz Programs after his retirement. Ortiz was instrumental in increasing the number of Latino student matriculating and graduating from Whittier.
The Ortiz Programs are designed to address the specific needs of Latino students. By encouraging their academic success and cultivating their leadership abilities, the Ortiz Programs serve to aid in student retention and completion. Currently, 44 percent of Whittier’s student body is Latino – one of the highest percentages among national private liberal arts colleges. In addition, bestcolleges.com recently named Whittier one of the nation’s Top 50 College for Hispanic Students. Whittier was ranked as number four in a list that includes many other top public and private institutions of higher learning.
Tardeada is sponsored and organized by MEChA, Cultural Center, Alianza de Los Amigos, and ASWC Senate.