Hispanic Excellence 2025

Editorial by Mikaila Rivas ‘26

Hispanic Heritage Month is not only a time to celebrate the accomplishments of our past ancestors who paved the way for our success in numerous professions, but also the Hispanics of today who continue to do so. While we always honor the achievements of Hispanic people, September 15 to October 15, is a special time of the year dedicated to recognize the culture, history and contributions of Hispanic individuals. 

While it may be unusual for a dedicated month for an ethnicity or race to be between two months, for Hispanic Heritage Month the days after September 15 are ones where multiple Latin American countries celebrate their days of independence, including Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Chile, and more.  Below are some of the many Hispanic scientists, political officials, activists, musicians, and entrepreneurs who this year truly raised the bar in their respective industries.

Bad Bunny 

Would it really be an article about Hispanic excellence of the year without writing about Bad Bunny? Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, better known by his stage name Bad Bunny is world-renowned Puerto Rican rapper and singer who is No.1 on Billboard's Top Latin Artists of the 21st Century. 

 His recent studio album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, is filled with hit after hit including songs like "NUEVAYoL", "BAILE INoLVIDABLe", and "DtMF" which are more than party songs, but reflect on his childhood in Puerto Rico, embrace his roots, and brought the music genre salsa and reggaeton to a more global stage than it already had. 

 In September, he ended his completely sold out 30-concert residency in Puerto Rico, which boosted the island with nearly $200 million in tourism.  With knowledge that most of his concertgoers are Hispanic, or the target demographic of the ICE raids in the United States, he especially decided to hold his concerts in Puerto Rico for their protection.  

Bad Bunny is also an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, as during a performance for

Bad Bunny

the The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2020 he wore a skirt and sweater that said “They killed Alexa, not a man with a skirt.”  The message was a tribute to Alexa Negrón Luciano, a homeless transgender woman who was killed in Puerto Rico only days before his performance.  

Bad Bunny is now to be the Super Bowl LX’s headliner for the halftime show next year.  While this decision has stirred much controversy, with America being the second country in the world with the most Spanish speakers and full of the superstar’s fans, it is certain the show will be enjoyed.

Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski 

Pasterski is a first-generation Cuban-American who from an early age had a passion

for science. At only 14 years old, she was on PBS News Hour in 2007 for creating her own airplane, which she said would be used by her father, a trained pilot, to fly him and her mother to MIT, her dream university, to come visit her. Pasterski built the airplane because her mom

". . . isn’t as big a fan as in flying small aircraft but she promised that she’d fly in an aircraft I built.”  

As an adult, Pasterski graduated from MIT as a Valedictorian, was in Forbes:

30 under 30 twice, and has achieved many other notable accomplishments. She is currently a professor at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Canada and is the founder of its Celestial Holography Initiative that seeks to present the celestial world into a hologram, in hopes of making advances in the enigma of quantum gravity.  

If one were to list the rest of Pasterski's scientific achievements, it would take up nearly the rest of the article, yet I anticipate seeing what more she will discover.

Helena Moreno 

Moreno is the first Latina to be elected the mayor of New Orleans. As a Democratic councilwoman for nearly a decade, she has achieved multiple promises she made to the

people of New Orleans.  

After Hurricane Ida in 2021, she executed a plan for a stronger, advanced power grid without any additional cost to ratepayers, but funded by the federal government. Additionally, Lincoln Beach, a landmark for the New Orleans community, was in need of redevelopment.  While a plan was started for restoration, actual development was slow, so Moreno decided to fully fund its redevelopment, a plan that will not only provide New Orleans East with leisure activities, but also economic opportunity.  

Moreno will officially take office in January 2026 and claims that “I’m in this fight for one reason: to deliver progress for our communities and our families.”

Juliassa Prado

Prado is the founder and CEO of Rizos Curls, a curly hair product company. Prado notes as part of her founder journey, “I spent years creating the perfect formula. I wanted a product made with quality and natural ingredients that could celebrate all curl types, from my Tia's coily strands to my sister's loose waves.”  

From mouses to curl creams to gels, her curl company has received many accolades for its quality, such as the Byrdie Beauty Award for the Best Curl Cream and made Harper Bazaar’s list of The 13 Best Hair Brushes Experts Love. Rizos Curls also has a sustainability premise of having 100% recyclable packaging and has been Climate Neutral Certified for the second year in a row.  

Prado also notably won the 2025 Hispanic Heritage Award for Entrepreneurship from

the Hispanic Heritage Foundation for being a passionate advocate for natural beauty, Latina empowerment, and sustainability.

While recently it feels that the Hispanic community is living precariously and in fear, it is important to acknowledge times like Hispanic Heritage month where we can remember those who came before us and those here now who are crossing the finish line even when it is constantly being moved. In the words of Carlos Santana, the founding member of the rock band Santana, “The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart.  The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace.”

All Photos Courtesy of Helena Moreno, David Kidd, Eric Rojas, Julissa Prado and David Avalo

Sources: sd2.org, youtube.com, council.nola.gov, helenamorenola.com/ , billboard.com, nbcnews.com, today.com, gaytimes.com, hispanicheritage.org and rizoscurls.com

Edited by Kavya Chacko '26, Catherine Polatidis '26, & Ms. Brillant

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