Cultural Festival Claims Top Prize at APEX Showcase

Posted on by Jeremy Handel

Luna Orozco Wins APEX Showcase with El Cultura de Festival

Jeremy Handel

Staff Writer

APEX Winner holding big check front of APEX logo.
SMC Senior Luna Orozco with her first place prize.

Luna Orozco has always known her Latin culture was worth celebrating. Now, after sharing the music, dancing, food, and more through her Capstone project, the SMC community agrees with her.

“I am humbled and honored for this recognition. I am just as grateful to all of the people who came out to support El Cultura de Festival and experience my culture,” Orozco said. “SMC is such a wonderful place, and you can always find a community here if you just reach out, and I appreciate everyone who chose to join us for the event.”

Her project brought many aspects of Latin culture to campus with Latin dance troops, musical acts, food, and other activities from local Latin organizations. All were centered around sharing Orozco’s cultural heritage and pride. The event drew hundreds of students, faculty, and staff and the SMC Latin American Student Organization is considering making it an annual event. Luna claimed to top prize of $1,000.

Second place and $750 went to Alexia Johnson for her project “Rescue and Renew,” focused on increasing adoptions at the Humane Society. She created a targeted marketing program – specifically focusing on enhanced social media – to feature the dogs available for adoption at the facility. She also provided educational material discussing how to care for pets and awareness of some common pet diseases and how to treat them. The facility’s adoption rate increased during Johnson’s campaign, and nearly 120 animals were adopted.

Isbela Barrientos claimed third place and $500 with her project “Healing with Flowers.” She partnered with Project R.E.S.T., a facility assisting victims of domestic violence, to host a flower arranging class free for women at the facility. The project aimed to help foster healing for the women and to teach them a skill they may be able to use later. Barrientos said the project had as much an impact on her as it did the participants.

Top three APEX winners with their big checks.
APEX winners (L to R) Isbella Barrientos, Alexia Johnson, and Luna Orozco.

“I continue to be amazed by the incredible projects our students present each year,” said SMC President Scott Cochran. “I don’t envy our judges for having to choose a winner each year. The passion and pride I see in our students presenting their projects is inspirational to me and exactly what we hope to instill in them as they move on to their careers.”

Following the competition, business leaders and community members joined all 76 seniors for a networking session to discuss their projects and potential prospects for the upcoming graduates.

The APEX Showcase is the final competition for SMC’s seniors presenting their Capstone projects. These projects are the culmination of the Camak Core professional development program, which focuses on ensuring graduates are prepared for the transition into the workplace. Capstone projects come in all kinds, including business startups, charity events, educational, and awareness. Students follow their passion to create something that demonstrates and enhances the professional development skills they’ve learned.