For its long-standing support of the Day of the Dead, City College was recognized by the non-profit organization Excelencia in Education for last year’s exhibition and event.

Competing with colleges from all over the nation, City College was nominated for the 2010 Excelencia Award in Education and ended up in the last group of finalists. The organization works to increase the number of Latino students pursuing success in higher education and is promoting educational policies and institutional practices.

“It’s an activity that brings together a lot of people on campus,” Dina Castillo, professor of the School of Modern Languages and Spanish major advisor said. “It all depends on who wants to participate that year.”

The exhibition sometimes also involves the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Every year, artists are invited to contribute with an exhibition piece. Last year, some of the local elementary schools also contributed to the exhibition.

“Sometimes the topics are political,” said Dr. Sonia Zúñiga-Lomeli, professor of the School Of Modern Languages. “We honor victims of war, children and victims of abuse.”

The exhibition and seasoned tradition entered its 22nd year.

“We look back at who has passed away during the year and we try to get a picture of those persons,” Castillo said.

Originally held in the Atkinson Gallery, it has been held in the Luria Library for the past five years. The change was appreciated.

“One role [for a library] is to be able to expose students to ideas and traditions that they might not be familiar with,” Kenley Neufeld, director of Luria Library, said. “It’s important to recognize and honor a different tradition. I like that it’s here.”