Each spring, Bakersfield College students have the opportunity to showcase their creativity and cultural scholarship through the Hispanic and Native American Student Colloquium. The event is announced in the beginning of the semester, faculty are encouraged to share it with their classes.

Flyers posted around campus and placed in staff mailboxes help spread the word.

On May 1, the  Levan Center hosted this year’s celebration, awarding four students $1,500 each for original work honoring Hispanic and Native American peoples and traditions. The event featured visual art, sculpture, and research presentations that brought ancestral knowledge and historical perspectives to life.

This year marked a milestone: for the first time, the Levan Center expanded its awards from three to four recipients, reflecting its growing commitment to uplifting student voices across disciplines.

“We’ve been very intentional with how we allocate our funds,” said Professor Reggie Williams, Director of the Levan Center. “If you’ve followed us in previous years, you’ll notice the shift.”

Among this year’s awardees was Yarali Albizurez, who submitted a painting centered on La Malinche, a historical figure often misrepresented in colonial narratives.

“She was a misunderstood figure in history,” Albizurez explained. “In reality, she was just a survivor who did what she needed to do.” Dalay Ulloa was honored for her sculpture inspired by the ancient city of Teotihuacan. “It wasn’t just a city—it was a spiritual, political, and cultural center,” she shared. Her piece paid tribute to the Temple of the Feathered Serpent and its symbolic meaning. Monce Monroy’s project blended research and visual art, featuring a hand-painted collection of Mesoamerican medicinal plants labeled with their Nahuatl names and uses. “Medicine wasn’t just about treating illness,” Monroy said. “It was about balance, spirituality, and honoring the wisdom of those who came before us.”

Williams thanked the faculty and staff who reviewed submissions, noting that he intentionally removes himself from the selection process.

“I don’t vote,” he said. “That’s the job of the reviewers—we want it to be fair and representative.”

As the Levan Center continues to grow its support for student work, events like this colloquium affirm the value of storytelling, tradition, and academic curiosity across all disciplines.