Article by Maya Ramirez ’16
Raising awareness of Hispanic history and culture, Adams State University Azarel Madrigal participated in the Hispanic College Quiz 2015 in Chicago this past July. A senior political science and history major, Madrigal said her favorite part of the experience was "competing."
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and Central City Productions partnered on this project, which featured 9 Hispanic college students answering a series of multiple-choice questions on Latino history. Adams State is a designated Hispanic Serving institution and a member of HACU.
Dr. Nick Saenz, Adams State assistant professor of history, mentored Madrigal and accompanied her to Chicago. "Azarel has been a part of the HAPPSS department for several years as a student in the political science program. Given her experiences as a cheerleader, Model UN contestant, and student leader, I knew that she would make an exemplary representative of Adams State University and the Grizzly community."
Applications from HACU member institutions in the US were accepted. Adams State was selected at random from among the pool of applicants. Central City Productions provided travel, including lodging and meals, for Saenz and Madrigal.
"I received a gigantic study guide, the Latino Studies Encyclopedia," Madrigal said. She studied for hours on end, which was not easy working two summer jobs. Saenz quizzed her the "entire way to the competition."
She made it to the championship round and received third place and received a scholarship. "I met tons of awesome students from other colleges around the country. I would encourage and recommend Adams State students to participate if presented with this opportunity."
According to the Central City Productions website, the purpose of the "Know Your Heritage Hispanic College Quiz Show" series is to encourage the appreciation of Latino heritage by all people in an entertaining quiz show format. The quiz show series objective is to generate a high level of excitement and enthusiasm by featuring Hispanic College students from around the country and showcase their knowledge and skill of Hispanic history.
"I tremendously enjoyed the opportunity to coach Azarel," Saenz said. "She did a terrific job representing Adams State University. The entire Grizzly community should be extremely proud of her success."
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Central City Productions launched its "Know Your Heritage Hispanic College Quiz Show" as a four -part half-hour series for "Hispanic Heritage Month" in September, 2008. This year, nine colleges and universities participated including Adams State, Broward College and Lynn University in Florida; Victoria College, Sul Ross State Univeristy, and University of Houston Downtown in Texas; Columbia Basin College in Washington; Los Angeles Harbor College in California; and Columbia College Chicago in Illinois.
Saenz said he was impressed by the production team at Central City Productions and the coaches and contestants were presented with a clear sense of what to expect. "In Chicago, we met an enthusiastic team of professionals who ran an efficient taping that was quite fun to boot. During down time, participants were also invited to explore one of the country’s great cities."
The quiz show was aired throughout the nation, in September and October, coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month.
Madrigal is the student trustee on the Adams State Board of Trustees and is the Vice President of External Affairs for the Associated Students and Faculty (student government). She received the Best Delegate Award at the Model United Nations competition in France last spring. Madrigal founded the Spirit Police, and helped coordinate the Second Annual International Women’s Week Celebration during the spring semester of 2015.
After graduating from Adams State in May 2016, Madrigal plans to pursue a master’s degree in public policy with a special interest in immigration and education policy at the University of Colorado, Denver.
