By Lorenzo Salinas

l.v.salinas@panews.com

Keeping tradition alive is one of the cornerstones of the Mexican Heritage Society of Port Arthur, Texas. It does this in multiple ways including art, dance and music. But perhaps the biggest way the Society does this is through its annual Fiesta, where Hispanic culture is celebrated and the new pageant royalty is crowned for the year.

Jacqueline Sandoval was named the Mexican Heritage Queen at the 49^th Annual Mexican Heritage Society Fiesta in Port Arthur. Sandoval, 18, is a freshman at Lamar University. She studies biology and intends to help others by becoming a surgeon when she graduates.

She also fulfills one of the cornerstones of the Mexican Heritage Society by helping keep her Hispanic tradition alive with the full support of her family.

Sandoval had never participated in the Fiesta before, but quickly became a candidate for queen when sponsors from the Heritage Society as well as pageant royalty approached her about this year’s event.

“Their enthusiasm about it and all the fun events with it… They made everything seem so amazing,” Sandoval said about entering the pageant.

And while 2017 may have been her first year to participate with the Heritage Society, Sandoval clearly comes from a household where heritage and tradition hold an important place.

“In my family, both my parents are from Mexico and they came (here) at a very young age. They like to keep their traditions alive.”

One of those ways her family does this is by scheduling a trip to Mexico each year.

When she was named Mexican Heritage Queen, Sandoval said she was honored but couldn’t believe it at first.

“I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t sure if it was really my name they called until they came up to me. Then I realized it was actually me.”

She said her parents were very proud of her and very excited — and not just them but her greater family as well including aunts and cousins.

Family would seem to play an especially important part of her life as Sandoval said she likes to spend time with them “in the very few moments I can get with them.”

She said she would never want to break the close connection she has with them.

For Sandoval, the title of Queen and the prestige that comes with it is only one more signifier of the importance of keeping her tradition alive.

“To me, it means keeping the Hispanic tradition alive” she said. “It means showing people that just because you’re in America, you can’t throw away your roots — you’re still capable of doing many things and of living up to your dreams.”

During a time rife with political and racial tensions, Sandoval said she felt knowing one’s identity and culture was paramount now more than ever.

“A lot of people are afraid to show their identity,” she said. “That’s one of the problems right now. If there was a way for people to not be afraid and to show who they are, maybe they could make a change.

“The more of us who come out to make a change — and to make the change better for themselves — the better overall it would be not just for one’s self but for others as well.”