In contrast with other organizations, it was an event that sparked the creation of LAGSA, and not the other way around. The first Parranda Latina took place in the spring of 2007, organized by a group of Latin American friends who missed having barbeques “like the ones at home”. This group of friends reserved Valhalla and the grills, bought food, played some music, and showed everyone a good time. The event was very well-received and showed Latin American and Hispanic graduate students how comforting it could be to have an organizational base for our community. Thus, LAGSA began to take shape.

One man in particular, Pedro M. Duarte, saw in the Parranda not only a successful event, but a staple of our community, a tradition that should endure, and the possibility for even more. With that premise, he drafted a club proposal and funded LAGSA (ratified under the GSA) in 2008. The organization was meant to work as a link for connecting newer students to the growing Latin culture on campus, to facilitate our community-based activities, and to help create and preserve the traditions that make a community. Pedro served as our first president.

Just as he envisioned over ten years ago, thanks to LAGSA, our Latin/Hispanic community becomes stronger every day.