University Housing Services will host U.S. Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez for the Latino Cultural Dinner, Monday, October 30, at 5 p.m. in the Brown Ballroom of the Bone Student Center.
Illinois State University’s Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality will cater the dinner and feature a variety of Puerto Rican fusion cuisines. Tickets for the dinner are available online for $25. Meal plan holders may use a meal swipe to make a reservation in exchange for one meal. Tickets will be available until October 23 or until sold out.
Since bringing home the gold and silver medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Hernandez went on to win the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, season 23 and published her first New York Times Best Selling book titled I Got This: To Gold and Beyond in 2017. In 2018, she released a children’s picture book, NYT Best Seller, She’s Got This with Harper Collins Children’s Books while serving as KPMG’s Literacy Champion to promote readership as a path to leadership. Additionally, Mattel created a “Shero” Barbie to honor her.
She is a second-generation American, as her grandparents are from Puerto Rico, making her the first U.S. born Latina to make the U.S. team since 1984. Hernandez was a gymnastics analyst for NBC’s Peacock and the Olympic Channel for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the National Dog Show. Hernandez is a sophomore studying drama at NYU Tisch School of Arts in NYC while continuing as a gymnastics analyst for NBC.
Acting is one of her biggest passions, and since 2016, she has done numerous cameos and voiceovers and co-hosted American Ninja Warrior Junior. She speaks across the country at college campuses and corporate groups about perseverance and gratitude while following one’s passions. As a fierce mental health advocate, she has partnered with multiple campaigns and initiatives to encourage support and awareness for all.
The Latino Cultural Dinner is sponsored by Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality, the Association of Residence Halls, Latin America and Latino/a Studies, Hewett-Manchester Diversity Coalition, Watterson Diversity Coalition, and the Organization of Latino Employees.
