Today, Sept. 15, is the official start of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Originally authorized by President Lyndon B. Johnson as National Hispanic Heritage Week, President Ronald Reagan expanded the observance to a month in 1988. The celebration begins on Sept. 15 to acknowledge the anniversary of the independence of five Latin American countries.

Colleges and universities around the country are taking the opportunity to not only recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans and celebrate Hispanic culture, but also to highlight the importance of diversity.

• Indiana University Bloomington will feature a musical celebration featuring Alfredo Minetti, a musician and lecturer in its School of Public and Environmental Affairs. In addition, the school has a new $4,000 National Hispanic Scholarship as part of the National Hispanic Recognition Program.
  

• Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich., will offer a series of free events through its Center for Chicano-Boricua studies, including a celebration that observes Mexican Independence Day and a exhibit titled “Turning a Negative into a Positive: Photographic Tour of Southwest Detroit.”

• At the University of Virginia, the Latino Student Alliance will sponsor a series of events, including film screens and dancing, with the goal of “fostering intra-community relations.”

• Polk State College in Polk County, Fla., will host a diversity conference with the theme of “Untapped Wealth: Turning Diversity into Dollars for Economic Development,” as well as a scholarship luncheon discussing possibilities in Central American and various art exhibits, dances and festivals.

• Arizona State University will feature appearances by two Hispanic leaders, Raul Yzaguirre and Armando Contreas. Yzaguirre, the former president of the National Council of La Raza, will discuss improving opportunities for Hispanics and Contreas, the executive director of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will discuss the recession and how Latino consumers and business are making an impact on the Arizona economy.