In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Stony Brook University student-athletes shared testimonials about the most influential people in their lives and the importance of their Hispanic culture.
 
Antonio Aguilar – Men's Track & Field
"My mom will always be my biggest supporter. She taught me morals and values that I carry on to my life. She always tells me "pone te las pilas" which translates to "get to work". She would tell me that every time I told her I wanted to get something done. I always hear her saying that in my head every time I do my school work or a workout on the track. Without her unconditional love, support, and care, I wouldn't be who I am now. I will forever love her. Te amó mami."


 
Gigi Gonzalez – Women's Basketball
"My dad is someone that I admire dearly! He has always provided for my family and has given us so much love and support in anything we do. He was born in Miami and his parents were immigrants from Cuba. My dad was in the Air Force and also was a firefighter. I am so glad to have him as a father because he is the best one I could ever imagine. He is a proud Cubano and he makes me feel so in love with my culture!"


 
India Pagan – Women's Basketball
"My mom left Puerto Rico after she graduated from college and was one of the best track stars on the island. She then continued to get her Master's degree in teaching here in the United States and is now Connecticut's favorite kindergarten teacher. She teaches Spanish and is changing the lives of many little souls' every day. Teaching them and keeping them in touch with their Hispanic roots, introducing new aspects of their culture, while helping them learn and grow in the classroom. My mom has taught me to be fearless, always be humble, and believe in my dreams.
 
And that's exactly what I did. I represented Puerto Rico in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and it has been one of my greatest honors. Representing a country is a feeling like no other, let alone on the biggest stage in the WORLD playing against the best of the best. Wearing that stunning flag, the name of my beautiful island across my chest every time I played was such a surreal feeling. I am so blessed to be Hispanic. It has given me an unbelievable amount of opportunities that I might not have gotten if I wasn't Puerto Rican. When I was little, I would have never imagined that at 22 years old I would be able to call myself an Olympian representing one of the most beautiful islands in the world. My culture and the way my mom and my dad raised me, has made me who I am today. Thankfully, I was taught Spanish. Ever since I was little, my grandma and all my family cook Hispanic food, we keep our traditions alive, and overall the Hispanic culture is embedded within me and has brought me to where I am. I am forever blessed to be Puerto Rican, represent the island I love, represent my people, my culture, and all the beauty that comes with being Hispanic."


 
Carlos Santos Jr. – Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
"As a first generation Hispanic American, everyone growing up has a celebrity, athlete, at home role model, or person they look up to, who they aspire to be some day. My role model just happens to live in my house, my Dad. My father migrated to America in 1996 from El Salvador giving up his dream to play as a professional soccer player and represent the national team. However, just like every immigrant that comes to the U.S., they come for a better lifestyle, job opportunities, and to help support their family back home. My father is one of many immigrants who works long hours day after day to feed our family. Throughout my educational and athletic years, I've had friends and teammates who look up to these big name celebrities like Messi, Kobe, Brady, famous singers, actors, etc. My dad is my Messi, my role model, someone who I look up to because he's the reason I chose to represent the country of El Salvador as a first generation Hispanic American with dual citizenship. Many people don't know what it means to be Hispanic American as a first generation and the responsibility that it carries.
 
In a Hispanic household, your parents expect you to take every opportunity you get to be successful and to best represent not only yourself, your family, or the work you put in day in and day out. It's a privilege to have the honor to represent the national track team of El Salvador because it's about something bigger. What it means to me is bigger than myself or anything else in my life that I've experienced as a Hispanic student-athlete. The honor to be able to put on the national uniform, put the country's flag on my back and carry it to put it on the highest possible stage, that I can is priceless. However, it's also being able to represent a large group of people who wish they could have the same opportunity as you to demonstrate the hard work they put in every day. My message to kids and anyone who's given the opportunity to represent their family's home country, I'm telling you to do it, you have no idea what it means to the people who don't have the same opportunities as you. Hispanic Americans and immigrants that you have come in contact with feel represented and count on you more than anything, but most importantly it brings them joy and hope that one day they could do the same."


 
Jack Valderrabano – Men's Soccer
"My parents have been the people who have had the most impact on my life. My parents immigrated here from Mexico and left all they ever knew in order to give me a better life in the United States. They provided me with the opportunity to have a great education and have been my biggest supporters throughout my life. Their work ethic inspires and pushes me every day to be the best version of myself. I wouldn't be who I am today without the love, support, and sacrifices of my parents and for that I owe them the world."