by Mary-Ann Brandon
WALSENBURG– Art Bobian talked with enthusiasm about the upcoming La Plaza de los Leones Fiesta, set to take place next weekend in Walsenburg. All proceeds from the upcoming weekend will go into a scholarship fund to help deserving students with financial needs. Said Bobian “This is a great cause, we do great things for the community and especially for the kids. I hope that the community will continue to support them by supporting our activities” Bobian has been the president of the organization for the past eight years and has seen the scholarship program move from being open only to Hispanic students to being entirely inclusive today. The scholarship is now available to any graduating student who qualifies, anywhere in Huerfano county, regardless of ethnic origin.
Of great importance to this organization is the Youth Auxiliary. This is a separate arm of the organization that is led by Art’s son Ricardo Bobian. The Youth Auxiliary is a leadership training program that has its own bylaws and the members decide what they want to do to raise money. They report to the general membership but make all decisions regarding their activities.
To receive a scholarship from the organization a student must maintain a 2.5 G.P.A., write an essay about their awareness of Hispanic heritage and involve themselves in community service. Membership in the Youth Auxiliary qualifies for the service component of the requirements.
The fiesta creates a community opportunity to not only help deserving students, but to celebrate the deeply rooted cultural heritage of this area.
A correction to the schedule that was listed in the paper last week. There will not be a teen dance on Friday night. There will be a dance on Saturday night at the community center from 9 pm to 1 am. The dance will feature entertainment by the band Dynamix and is open to the public age 21 and older.
Festivities kick off on Saturday at 10 am. The performance schedule is as follows:
Saturday Sept 11:
10:00 am Parade
11:00 – 11:30 Korrine Aguirre
(singer)
11:30 – 12:30 The Fiesta Queen an
her court will perform (variety entertainment)
12:30 – 1:30 The El Fandango
Dancers
1:30 – 2:30 Karaoke (open to the
public, here’s your chance to unleash
your hidden star within)
2:30 – 3:00 Las Hermanas (Country, Pop and Mexican music)
3:00 – 4:00 Rappers (from Grip
ALot Records in Pueblo) TBA.
4:00 – 4:30 Alexandria Tenorio
(Pop singer)
4:30 – 5:30 Atzlan Indian Dancers
9:00 – 1:00 Community Dance with
Dynamix (over 21)
Sunday Sept 12:
2:00 – 3:00 Atzlan Indian Dancers
3:00 – 3:30 Korrine Aguirre
3:30 – 4:00 Alexandria Tenorio
4:00 – 4:30 Las Hermanas
4:30 – 5:00 TBA
There is much more to say about this worthy organization than space will allow. For more detail and to learn about their history, visit their website at: plazadelosleones.org
