1. National Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 through October 15

2. September 15 Costa Rica El Salvador Honduras Guatemala Nicaragua September 16 Mexico September 18 Chile

3. The word HISPANIC refers to Spanish-speaking people of the United States of any race Source: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/hhm1.html

4. “Over 35 million people identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino in 2000” Source: http://www.factmonster.com/spot/hhm1.htmlhttp://www.factmonster.com/spot/hhm1.html Celebrating the Hispanic American Countries of Origin

6. Latino: One Word Embraces Many Careers and Cultures

7. Nancy Lopez Inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame and considered by some as one of the greatest female golfers in history. Mexican Americans Ellen Ochoa NASA Astronaut and holder of three patents.

8. Cuban Americans Fernando Bujones Known worldwide as a ballet dancer, as well as director and currently serving as the Artistic Director of the Orlando Ballet. María Irene Fornés After immigrating to the United States at the age of 15 she has written over 35 plays. Most of her plays center around Latino women.

9. Severo Ochoa Discovered the process that allows scientists to create RNA in a test tube. Won the Nobel Peace for Medicine and Physiology in 1959. Spanish Americans David G. Farragut He was the first person to earn The rank of Admiral in the United States Army.

10. 3,406,178 people consider themselves of Puerto Rican descent According to the 2000 Census

11. 764,945 people consider themselves of Dominican (Dominican Republic) descent According to the 2000 Census

12. 20,640,711 people consider themselves of Mexican descent According to the 2000 Census

13. 18,804 people consider themselves of Uruguayan descent According to the 2000 Census

14. El Dia de la Raza (The day of the Race)

15. El Dia de la Raza celebrated throughout the Spanish- speaking world in honor of Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the New World. This day celebrates the richness, diversity and contributions of the races and cultures that make up the Hispanic identity. Source: http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Stu/mmdeleon/Holidays.htm