Hispanic Heritage Month: Edward Hernandez ‘27 builds community and legacy at Elon | Today at Elon

“I’ve made my own family here at Elon.”

As president of Elon University’s Latinx Hispanic Union (LHU), Edward Hernandez ’27 can easily describe the purpose he’s discovered in fostering community across campus and in the surrounding communities where he was raised.

“Whether it’s my LHU family, my El Centro team, or my Odyssey cohort, those connections feel like home,” said the double major in marketing and business analytics from Burlington, N.C. They’re also the foundation of a legacy he hopes to leave for future Hispanic and Latinx students.

Roots of Legacy

Hernandez’s legacy begins with the blending of two identities. As the son of a Mexican mother and Salvadoran father, he grew up surrounded by traditions that emphasized the value of family and community.

His most cherished memories are Christmas Eve gatherings with more than 60 relatives, opening presents at midnight and celebrating until morning.

“Every year, we’d drive down to Florida to see my grandparents. Christmas Eve was always the biggest gathering,” Hernandez said. “Those are some of my favorite memories, just being surrounded by family and celebrating together.”

These traditions shaped Hernandez’s understanding of belonging, a value he now carries with him through his college experience.

Cultivating Community at Elon

Hernandez was first introduced to Elon through the “It Takes a Village” Project, but it was Elon Academy, the university’s college access and success program for academically promising high school students from families with little or no history of college, that truly showed him college was within reach.

“Elon Academy was the biggest help for me,” he said, “It showed me what college could be and [that it] was attainable.”

After choosing to attend Elon, the recipient of the Douglas and Edna Truitt Noiles ’44 Scholarship in the Odyssey Program found spaces like El Centro and LHU to celebrate his heritage. He progressed from visitor to student coordinator at El Centro, helping to host programs such as Perspectivas, where the Hispanic and Latinx community shared their experiences.

“Last year, my department hosted a panel on machismo,” he said. “It was powerful to hear how different people grew up with those cultural norms and how our generation is pushing to move away from them.”

His involvement with LHU grew just as quickly. By the spring of his first year, he was on the executive board, later serving as treasurer, vice president, and now president.

Inspiring the next generation

Mentorship has become one of the most meaningful ways Hernandez carries his values forward. Hernandez is both a College Access Success Team (CAT) mentor and summer mentor with Elon Academy, where he offers the same encouragement he once received as a scholar.

“The mentors I had there made such a difference in my life, and that’s why I now give back as a CAT mentor and summer mentor because the program gave me so much,” he said.

He also volunteers weekly with the Dream Center in Burlington, supporting primarily Hispanic and Latinx students through its SPIN program, which provides academic assistance, mentorship and community engagement.

“We act as mentors, but also as older siblings, playing games and helping out,” Hernandez said.

Together, these experiences reflect the core of his impact: inspiring younger students to lead, give back and see themselves as part of a thriving community.

Shaping the future

Hernandez sees his legacy not in recognition but in impact, a truth underscored when students he mentored through Elon Academy enrolled at Elon.

“It was really a full circle moment. The scholars that I mentored during the summer going into my sophomore year are now here at Elon,” he said. “Seeing them join and even ask me about LHU or El Centro shows me that my work is making a difference.”

Looking ahead, Hernandez hopes to carry his values of family and community into a career in marketing and business analytics, advocating for more inclusive practices and challenging stereotypes.

“A lot of the time, marketing uses very harsh stereotypes of people,” Hernandez said. “I think there can definitely be changes. Whenever people market or design campaigns, the voices of different cultures need to be in the room so communities aren’t stereotyped.”

More than a story

In the end, Hernandez’s vision of legacy is simple: giving back, community and family — both the one he was born into and the one he created at Elon. His story also reflects this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme, “Más Que Una Historia: Living Our Legacy,” as he honors the traditions that shaped him while inspiring future generations.

“It really feels good to see that I am making a difference,” he said. “My hope is that the students I’ve helped will do even more than I did at Elon and continue to make a difference here.”

Elon honors Hispanic Heritage Month

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, Elon University is sharing stories that celebrate the contributions, identities and experiences of students, faculty and staff. This month recognizes the rich histories and cultures of Hispanic and Latinx communities, while also honoring the ways these traditions connect with and inspire people of all backgrounds. This month provides a special opportunity to honor Hispanic and Latinx heritage, but it also serves as an invitation for all members of the university to engage, learn and celebrate together.