42nd Hispanic Education Conference

2025 | Modesto Junior College

Creative Roles: 

• Nicholas Lazar – Graphic Arts & Marketing Specialist
• Jeanette Fontana – Director of Marketing & Public Relations

Project Summary:

The Hispanic Education Conference (HEC) is a cornerstone annual event organized by Modesto Junior College for high school students, parents, and community members across the greater Stanislaus County region. Celebrating its 42nd year in 2025, the conference remains dedicated to providing a space where young Hispanic people can celebrate their culture while gaining the resources and inspiration necessary to pursue higher education. The 2025 event focused heavily on the power of collective action under the guiding principle: “Community United!”

Constraints:

The visual identity for 2025 needed to pivot from the previous year’s sports-centric theme to a more community-focused, celebratory aesthetic. The creative direction was centered around the keynote speaker, Marvin Jacobo, a prominent leadership development consultant and community builder.

The challenge was to create a brand system that felt “festive” and culturally rich—highlighting the contributions of Hispanic/Latinx communities—while maintaining a professional, academic tone that encouraged students to view MJC as their next step. As the representative for the Office of Marketing & Public Relations on the planning committee, I balanced the need for vibrant, culturally grounded illustrations with the logistical requirements of a massive event featuring over 25 unique workshops.

Outcome:

The marketing campaign successfully fostered a sense of “belonging” before students even stepped onto campus. By utilizing a “Community United” theme, the print and digital deliverables helped drive attendance for a full day of programming, including a Parade of Nations and a diverse Resource Fair.

I developed a comprehensive suite of materials for both pre-event promotion and day-of execution, including:

• Promotional Assets: Targeted social media content, posters, and flyers.
• Event Wayfinding: Multi-lingual directional signage and workshop maps for East Campus.
• Day-of Collateral: Event PowerPoints, printed agendas, and evaluation forms (which doubled as lunch tickets).
• Engagement Items: Apparel design and takeaway items that reinforced the conference’s legacy.

The final result was a cohesive, high-energy environment that bridged the gap between community tradition and academic ambition, ensuring the 42nd HEC continued its legacy of empowering the next generation of Latinx leaders.