Broadview Hosts Purchase College Latine Unidos Graduation

While nearly 800 Purchase College students packed into The Westchester County Center for commencement ceremonies this May, Senior Janelix Valdivieso Rivera had something more intimate in mind to mark the milestone.

Janelix, a psychology major and President of Latine Unidos who works in the dining hall at Broadview, helped organize a smaller gathering of students to celebrate the culmination of their 4-year journey, Latin style.

“It touched my heart. It was very well done,’’ said Broadview resident Anne Sweazey, who attended the festivities in the Great Hall at Broadview. She added, “We are so delighted that Broadview was able to host something like this.”

About 110 people, including 30 graduates, family, and friends, came together on May 8, about a week before the official commencement, to cheer on their classmates’ accomplishments and to share their mutual heritage.

“I believe that every student deserves to be spotlighted within their own community, around people who understand their struggles, understand what they have been through,’’ said Janelix. “It’s important for people from different cultures to come together and celebrate with one another.”

In recognizing their Latin heritage, the students also recognized that their culture encompasses a very large tent of multiple identities: Caribbean, Central American, and South American.
Leandro Benmergui, a Latin American studies professor who gave the keynote address to students, underscored this theme. Students took turns speaking about their particular cultural heritage, and one young woman performed a lively traditional dance, followed by an awards ceremony.

“There was a lot of cheering and support for the graduates from their fellow graduates, and that was great,’’ said Sweazey. “Right now, in this moment of time in our history, there’s clearly so much reason for people who are Hispanic to feel like outsiders, that they don’t belong, so it was good to see this outpouring of support.’’

Sweazey, a development professional who moved to Broadview two years ago, said she has enjoyed the social interaction with Purchase College students and is looking forward to new experiences in the fall semester.

“It’s what we’re here for, really, to learn and to admire the students and their progress and success. It just really does fill our hearts with good feelings when that happens,’’ she said.