While the entire university is busy celebrating homecoming, this year’s festivities are especially important for the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, which is celebrating its 100 year anniversary. The department will host a day of events on Friday to celebrate the department’s time at the university.

Malcolm Compitello, head of the department of Spanish and Portuguese is helping to put on the event.

“This is a great opportunity for alumni to mingle and reminisce about their time spent at the University of Arizona, as well as in the Spanish Department,” Compitello said.

Alumni from 1950 to 2012 will be in attendance, Compitello added.

Friday’s series of events start at 2 p.m. with a presentation called “How Pedro Almodovar Conquered Hollywood,” on the UA Mall as part of the UA Alumni Association’s homecoming collegiate and campus showcase. The presentation will look at the career of the acclaimed Spanish screen writer and film director, analyzing his ascension from his status as a filmmaker.

At 3:30, the UA Poetry Center will host an El Día de los Muertos exhibit. The exhibit will feature a number of family-friendly activities, refreshments and free tours of the poetry center. Attendees will also see screenings of films from the department’s student film festival.

The day of celebration will come to a close with a fiesta for students, faculty and alumni at El Charro Café Downtown. Admission to the dinner is $20 and will feature live music and a taco bar.
Nutrition sophomore Jill Dohrn, a Spanish minor, said she feels honored to be a part of such a thriving department and Spanish community.

“As a student in the Spanish department, it is really exciting to see such a great department celebrate its 100th anniversary,” Dohrn said. “I really can’t imagine my experience at UA without my Spanish classes and professors.”

Helen Gomez Bernard, coordinator of external and alumni relations for the College of Humanities, said the event is the perfect opportunity for alumni to reconnect with the Spanish department, as well as the campus.

“We are most excited to bring together so many people who have studied and worked in the department,” Compitello said. “We look forward to share our accomplishments that have helped make the Department of Spanish and Portuguese one of the best in the country.”

Follow Erin DeSoto @erindesoto