Texarkana College to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage with Festival Sept. 29

Texarkana College will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with its annual Hispanic Heritage Festival from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 29, on the TC campus. Hosted by the TC Hispanic Student Association through the Division of Student Life, the free event will feature food, music, dance and cultural performances.

The festival will feature authentic Hispanic food vendors, merchandise and other items for purchase. Traditional Hispanic dance demonstrations will be presented by Ballet Folklorico Alma Latina of Texarkana, TX, with performances also featuring students from Texas High School, Nash Elementary, and Red Lick ISD.

Making a special appearance will be Miss Texarkana Latina Cris Peña, the first representative from Texarkana to compete as Miss Latina Texas.

The festival will also honor two local Hispanic leaders and Texarkana College alumnae, Fernanda Hernandez and Thalia Rojas.

Hernandez is the morning anchor for KTAL, where she has worked since 2018 and has served as morning anchor since 2020. Born in Querétaro, Mexico, she moved to Texarkana at age nine without speaking English. She earned an associate degree from Texarkana College and a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University–Texarkana. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hernandez anchored and produced a Spanish-language newscast to help ensure Spanish-speaking families had access to critical information in their own language.

Rojas, a 2015 TC graduate, works as a real estate agent and serves as president of the Semillas del Futuro Foundation, where she is dedicated to supporting families and strengthening the community.

“Fernanda and Thalia represent the kind of leadership and community commitment that we are proud to celebrate at Texarkana College,” said Lee Williams, III, Dean of Student Life at Texarkana College. “Their stories demonstrate the many ways our alumni use their education, experiences and voices to make a difference in the communities they serve.”

The Hispanic Heritage Festival is open to the community along with TC students, faculty, and staff. Attendees are invited to enjoy authentic food, shop with local vendors, experience cultural performances and celebrate Hispanic heritage.

WHAT: Texarkana College Hispanic Heritage Festival
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Texarkana College campus
COST: Free admission; For purchases, most vendors accept cash only, however Venmo and Cash App may be available for some vendors.

This event is made possible in part through the support of Red River Credit Union, Guaranty Bank & Trust, and Ledwell.

For more information:
Lee Williams, III, Dean of Student Life
Texarkana College
903-823-3012
lee.williams@texarkanacollege.edu