COLONIA, N.J. – As National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 through October 15, the ECC proudly recognizes the significant contributions of its Hispanic/Latino student-athletes.
The ECC's member institutions' athletic departments and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee groups are also celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month and recognizing Hispanic/Latino student-athletes on their campuses by featuring student-athletes' stories, sharing educational resources, promoting events, serving cultural food options in the dining halls, and more.
Throughout the month, the ECC will spotlight several student-athletes across its platforms. The third of our four rollouts features Mercy University field hockey (coming to the ECC in Fall 2026!) junior Maddie Preston, Roberts Wesleyan University women's basketball senior Laura Granada Floria, and St. Thomas Aquinas College women's track and field sophomore Dayna Jimenez.
Jimenez was also featured on this week's East Coast Conference Podcast. Listeners can stream, download, and subscribe to the East Coast Conference Podcast through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the official ECC website at ECCSports.org/podcasts.
Can you share about your own cultural identity?
Preston: My mom is from Nicaragua, and that side of my heritage has always been really important to me. Growing up, I was surrounded by Nicaraguan traditions — through food, music, language, and family values. It's something that grounds me and gives me a unique perspective, both in life and in sports. I'm proud to represent that part of who I am every day, especially in spaces where our voices and stories aren't always heard.
Granada Floria: My cultural identity is shaped by my family values, traditions, and experiences. It reflects the way I was raised, the languages, food, and celebrations I grew up with, and the importance of hard work, education, and community in my life. It influences how I see the world and how I connect with others.
Jimenez: I identify as Dominican-American, and growing up in the Bronx has shaped my cultural identity in many ways. At home, I was surrounded by Dominican traditions, from eating mangú and sancocho to listening to bachata and merengue. Outside, I was influenced by the diverse cultures in the Bronx, which exposed me to different languages, foods, and lifestyles. Being Dominican-American means balancing both worlds: holding onto my Dominican roots while embracing the fast-paced, multicultural environment of the Bronx. It has made me proud of who I am and the community I come from.
Why is it important to recognize and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
Preston: Hispanic Heritage Month is important because it gives us the opportunity to honor the diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities. It's a time to celebrate our roots, educate others, and bring visibility to the people and stories that have helped shape our country. It also helps create a more inclusive environment in athletics and on campus by highlighting the value of diversity.
Granada Floria: It's important to recognize and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month because it honors the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. It helps build understanding, pride, and appreciation for diversity, while also giving people an opportunity to learn from and value traditions that have shaped our society.
Jimenez: Recognizing and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month as a Dominican is important because it's a chance to honor my roots, history, and culture while also embracing the diversity within the Hispanic community. It allows me to reflect on the traditions, music, food, and values that shape Dominican identity while connecting with others who share similar experiences. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the contributions Dominicans and other Hispanic groups have made to society and to ensure our stories and voices are represented and appreciated.
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you personally?
Preston: For me, Hispanic Heritage Month is a chance to reflect on where I come from and celebrate the strength and resilience of my family — especially my mom and her journey from Nicaragua. It's also a time to connect with others who share similar backgrounds and to embrace the pride I feel in representing my heritage as a student-athlete.
Granada Floria: Hispanic Heritage Month means taking time to appreciate where I come from and the traditions that have shaped me. It's a reminder to be proud of my roots, to celebrate my culture through family, food, music, and values, and to recognize how my heritage influences who I am today.
Jimenez: For me, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate who I am and where I come from as an Afro-Latina. It's a chance to honor my Dominican roots, the traditions, music, and values that have been passed down through my family, while also embracing the beauty of my African heritage. Growing up, I didn't always see my identity fully represented, so this month reminds me that my culture, my history, and my voice matter. It's about taking pride in my roots and recognizing the strength, resilience, and contributions of Afro-Latinos within the larger Hispanic community.
What Hispanic leaders or trailblazers have you admired throughout your athletic career?
Preston: One person I admire is Laurie Hernandez, the Olympic gymnast. She's been such a powerful voice for the Latinx community, and she brings so much energy and pride to everything she does. Her success and confidence inspire me to be proud of who I am and to bring that same spirit to the field hockey field.
Granada Floria: Throughout my athletic career, I've admired Hispanic and Latino trailblazers like Manu Ginóbili and Carmelo Anthony, who showed how discipline, passion, and pride in their heritage can inspire the next generation of athletes. I also look up to leaders like Sonia Sotomayor, who, though not an athlete, is a reminder that breaking barriers and representing our culture with pride can make a lasting impact both on and off the court.
Jimenez: I admire athletes like Felix Sánchez, Marileidy Paulino, and Carmelo Anthony because they inspire me to work hard and take pride in my heritage. Felix's Olympic victories show the power of perseverance, Marileidy motivates me as a Dominican woman in track and field, and Carmelo reminds me that embracing your culture while excelling in sports is something to be proud of.
The second of our four rollouts featured Daemen women's volleyball junior Amelia González, D'Youville women's cross country and track and field freshman Andrea Marquina, and Queens women's soccer freshman Karen Merlos.
Can you share about your own cultural identity?
González: My cultural identity is Puerto Rican. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and all of my family is from there as well. Our traditions, music, food, and language are a big part of who I am. Being Puerto Rican has taught me the importance of family, community, and pride in our history and culture.
Marquina: I'm 100% Ecuadorian but was born in the United States. Both my parents were born in Ecuador and are from small towns which we visit about once a year. I speak Spanish, somewhat fluently, but my first language is English.
Merlos: My parents are both from El Salvador as the rest of my family is and I was born here on Long Island... but I consider myself Salvadoran.
Why is it important to recognize and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
González: It is important to recognize and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month because it honors the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino people. It helps us appreciate the diversity within our communities, learn about traditions that shape our society, and give recognition to voices and stories that are often left out. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month fosters pride within the community and helps others appreciate the value of cultural identity.
Marquina: I think it is important to recognize and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month because it helps preserve culture and identity and educates others on raising awareness about the history and experiences of Hispanic and Latinx communities in the United States.
Merlos: I think it important to not only celebrate Hispanic culture and share it with others but to also recognize the hardship that many Hispanics go through, be it within their own country or if they have immigrated.
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you personally?
González: As a Hispanic/Latina from a small island, it means so much to see my culture and identity celebrated on a larger scale. It reminds me that even though Puerto Rico is small, our traditions, language, and history are an important part of the bigger picture. This month gives me pride in where I come from and motivates me to keep sharing and honoring my heritage with others.
Marquina: Hispanic Heritage Month is a month of tradition in which my family and others take part. It's a time to get together and celebrate our culture and to remember where we come from.
Merlos: To me, Hispanic Heritage Month means celebrating our culture and showing people who we really are, as well as being proud of who I am and my culture.
What Hispanic leaders or trailblazers have you admired throughout your athletic career?
González: One Hispanic leader I admire is Monica Puig. In 2016, she became the first Puerto Rican in history to win an Olympic gold medal, achieving it in the women's singles tennis event while representing Puerto Rico. Her victory inspired me because it showed the world the talent and determination that comes from our small island. Her achievement showed that even from a small island, we can leave a lasting mark on the world.
Marquina: I personally look up to Brian Daniel Pintado, who did the Men's 20 km race walk and earned a gold medal with a time of 1:18:55. I look up to him because he made such a great representation for Ecuador, and I was able to see him in real life when I visited that very year.
Merlos: For me, it had always been Lionel Messi. I think that what he did on the field was just great and amazing to watch. He is a leader to his teammates, and how they follow is is really admirable.
The first of four roll-outs featured Daemen men's soccer freshman Cristopher Vasquez, Roberts Wesleyan men's volleyball junior Moises Jimenez, and Staten Island women's track and field sophomore Alexis Doyle.
Can you share about your own cultural identity?
Vasquez: Both of my parents were born in Ecuador, and I have visited twice.
Jimenez: I come from a proud Hispanic background with roots in both the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. My cultural identity is shaped by strong family values, resilience, and a passion for community. Growing up, I learned to embrace diversity, work hard, and always carry my heritage with pride.
Doyle: My cultural identity comes from the beautiful language my family speaks, the delicious flavors of Puerto Rican cuisine, and the amazing island I call my second home. Being a Boriqua is a huge part of my cultural identity that I cherish deeply.
Why is it important to recognize and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?
Vasquez: I believe Hispanics where a big part of building and making America what it is today.
Jimenez: It is important to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month because it honors the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. By celebrating it, we not only acknowledge the struggles and successes of those before us, but we also inspire the next generation to embrace their heritage with confidence and pride.
Doyle: I think it's very important for us to recognize and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month because we deserve to have the recognition as a Hispanic American to represent our ethic background and share our culture with the world. Not everyone can have the privilege to share their stories, so as a community, we can make our culture known!
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you personally?
Vasquez: It means having a name for ourselves here in America, because we don't get represented as much.
Jimenez: For me, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to reflect on where I come from and the sacrifices my family made to give me opportunities. It's also a chance to celebrate the joy, music, food, and traditions that make my culture unique while sharing it with others. Personally, it reminds me to stay true to my roots and to use my platform as a student-athlete to represent my community with pride.
Doyle: Hispanic Heritage Month makes me very proud to be lucky enough to have roots in such a beautiful ethnic group. My abuela is one of the best blessings in my life, and nothing makes me happier than celebrating Hispanic Heritage month.
What Hispanic leaders or trailblazers have you admired throughout your athletic career?
Vasquez: Lionel Messi and Emiliano Martínez
Jimenez: I look up to Roberto Clemente because he showed that sports are about more than winning. He was a great athlete but also cared about helping people, which inspires me.
Doyle: My abuelo is definitely a Hispanic leader I have admired throughout my athletic career. He ran in Puerto Rico for his college and professionally and I see myself in him always. He was a multi-event athlete and competed in the 400 meter hurdles. His decorated career only left me in awe of him. I always find similarities between our skills in the sport and our physique is very similar.