On December 13, the Holy Cross Achievers hosted their annual potluck in the brand new Dining Commons. The festive event brought together students, families, and staff, with a tantalizing array of dishes like parmesan chicken, atole, pizza, pasta, and orange chicken.
Students in HCA are first-generation college-bound students from underrepresented backgrounds such as Latinx, Hispanic, Black, Pacific Islander, and Native American communities. The HCA Program, run by Ms. Miranda Mcintosh, offers students comprehensive and intentional assistance in meeting their long-term social and academic goals. One of the ways they assist students is through tutoring, as they have daily tutoring sessions with different teachers coming in to support the students. They also work with seniors, hosting workshops and monthly meetings to check in on their progress.
Every year, the families that are a part of the program come together for their annual December potluck. Ms. Dynelle Babb, the assistant director for HCA, explained how the potluck “is an opportunity for families to come together to meet and mingle, and it’s a chance for students to see each other in a less academic manner.” Students used this opportunity to further get to know one another even more, spend time with each other, and make valuable memories. There were many activities for the students to bond over, such as card games and a photo booth.
There was also a Secret Santa activity in which all HCA members participated. This activity was organized by the HCA leaders in order to create an inclusive environment and sense of family. Noah Mcintosh (’26) reflected on the day, saying, “Normally we don’t have those types of things at the events and it was very cool to have something different and new. It brought more life and excitement to the event.” Students exchanged the gifts they bought for their selected person and topped the activity off with a selfie.
The new Welcome Center was a massive part of this event. This was the first time that the potluck was hosted in the new building, and its qualities played a pivotal role in making the event a success. “The HCA event was really relaxing, really nice; the location of the event had a super nice ambiance.” said Byron Gonzalez Diaz (’26). The building was bustling with open-minded people, ready to learn about each other’s unique stories and backgrounds.
Ultimately, the goal of hosting events like this is to allow student’s families to be involved on campus and show their support. Bringing the community together is an important and core value of HCA. The leaders of the program believe that there is no better way to celebrate the holidays than sharing a meal and spending quality time together at the potluck.
