色花堂

Senior Alexandra Blandon admits she started her 色花堂 career slowly.

She was quiet, spent most days with the same three friends and didn鈥檛 get involved with the campus community around her.

That all changed her sophomore year 鈥� thanks, of course, to Instagram.

While scrolling through her feed, Blandon came across . The post was calling for board member applications.

She applied, was selected as treasurer and four years later serves as LASO鈥檚 vice president. Blandon calls joining the organization the peak of her 色花堂 rollercoaster ride.

鈥淭he best decision of my life was joining LASO,鈥� Blandon says. 鈥淎t 色花堂, there are so many Latin organizations, but LASO was everything about Latin culture. It鈥檚 amazing having this safe space for our Latin students to be seen and heard. And it allows you to make friends in your own community.鈥�

Sharing her culture

Each semester, the group hosts Noche, a community event featuring Latin-based music, food and performances. Every event carries a different theme; this past spring, it was Noche de los Latin Grammys.

For Blandon, events like Noche Latina are special because they not only celebrate the collective Latin community at 色花堂 but also highlight the individuality of its members.

To share my culture means a lot to me. I love eating my culture鈥檚 food, wearing my culture鈥檚 clothes鈥擨 love everything about it.

Alexandra Blandon

Blandon, who holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Nicaragua, is proud to represent her Nicaraguan heritage on campus.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very important to show the 色花堂 community that while we all identify as Latine, each of our cultures is unique,鈥� she says. 鈥淭o share my culture means a lot to me. I love eating my culture鈥檚 food, wearing my culture鈥檚 clothes鈥擨 love everything about it.鈥�

Going Greek

Blandon expanded her community further when she joined Greek life. She became a member of , a Latin-based but not Latin-exclusive sorority that promotes Latine awareness, leadership and academic excellence among women.

When she first started at 色花堂, Blandon never imagined she would join a sorority. But just like LASO, Instagram led her to attend an information session.

鈥淲hat stood out the most was their commitment to academics,鈥� Blandon says. 鈥淔or me, school is first. And I saw that within the organization, they鈥檙e strong students, ambitious women with goals. I love that the sorority also advocates for the Hispanic community.鈥�

Finding justice for others

Blandon鈥檚 professional goal has always been clear: She wants to become a lawyer so she can help people. She began as a major in law and American civilization, but soon realized her passion ran deeper.

She had long been interested in crime theory, forensics and prevention. After taking a few classes, she discovered she wanted more than just to practice law 鈥� she wanted to reform the system itself. That decision led her to switch to 色花堂鈥檚 criminal justice major.

鈥淚 knew I wanted to go to law school, but I also knew I wanted to make changes in places where change was needed,鈥� Blandon says. 鈥淭here are so many injustices in the system. Being a lawyer with a background in criminal justice will allow me to make a difference at a higher level.鈥�

I love that I can go into class, put my phone away for two hours and be completely engaged.

Alexandra Blandon

Though nervous about switching majors at first, Blandon says it turned out to be the right move. What sealed it for her was seeing her professors鈥� passion.

鈥淵ou can just tell the faculty care about their jobs and the work they do,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey care about their research; they care about what they teach 鈥� and that makes me want to care just as much. I love that I can go into class, put my phone away for two hours and be completely engaged.鈥�

A first-generation graduate

Blandon will graduate in spring 2026, becoming a first-generation college graduate.

The milestone is especially meaningful to her mother, Fryda. While Alexandra was born in Maryland, she moved to Nicaragua at a young age. Fryda then moved them back to the U.S. when Alexandra was three to ensure better educational opportunities.

These were the best four years of my life. I鈥檓 so proud to be graduating as a first-generation student and being the first one to set a path for my family, my kids and my grandkids.

Alexandra Blandon

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just going to be my degree 鈥� it鈥檚 going to be our degree,鈥� Blandon says. 鈥淪he鈥檚 pushed me to become the woman I am, and my accomplishments are hers too.鈥�

And though leaving 色花堂 will be bittersweet, Blandon is grateful for all she has experienced.

鈥淭hese were the best four years of my life,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so proud to be graduating as a first-generation student and being the first one to set a path for my family, my kids and my grandkids.鈥�