Arts
Globally known for his humble character and comedic style, he left a lasting impact on Mexican and American cinema and won a Golden Globe award for Best Actor in the film, "Around the World in 80 Days"
Cantiflas
This Mexican crop, originally domesticated by indigenous peoples, became a global food staple and subject of genetic research.
Corn (or maize)
As a symbol of Cuban pride, he won three Olympic gold medals in boxing.
Teófilo Stevenson
This Venezuelan and Colombian corn cake is often split open and stuffed with cheese, meat, or eggs.
arepa
This ancient Mayan citadel located in the rainforests of northern Guatemala is renowned for its impressive pyramids and temples, including the Temple of the Grand Jaguar and the Temple IV, which is the tallest pre-Columbian structure in the Americas.
Tikal
This beloved actor, singer, and songwriter during the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema recorded 366 songs in genres related to mariachi, rancheras, and bolero.
Pedro Infante
This Colombian scientist developed the first synthetic vaccine for malaria, which advanced the field of vaccinology.
Manuel Elkin Patarroyo
This Argentinian soccer player led his team to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and is often considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time.
Lionel Messi
This Nicaraguan dessert is made with ripe plantains, cheese, and sour cream.
maduros en gloria
He was the first president of African descent in Latin America.
Vicente Guerrero
This Mexican director won the Oscar for The Shape of Water in 2018.
Guillermo del Toro
This Salvadoran scientist and inventor created a "turbo-cooker" and a process to reduce firewood consumption by a 9-to-1 ratio, earning recognition from the UN.
Rene Nuñez
This Venezuelan shortstop won 11 Gold Glove awards in Major League Baseball.
Omar Vizquel
This sweet drink made with purple corn and spices is a Peruvian favorite.
chicha morada
Colloquially known as "El Libertador," he led the Independence movement from Spain
in South America.
Simon Bolivar
This Argentine composer wrote the music for The Motorcycle Diaries and Brokeback Mountain.
Gustavo Santaolalla
Paraguay's development of this renewable energy technology has made it one of the world's leaders in clean energy production per capita.
Hydroelectric power
This Guatemalan race walker won the country's first-ever Olympic medal in 2012.
Erick Barrondo
This Mexican dessert is made with toasted bread soaked in a spiced syrup made with piloncillo and sometimes has raisins, nuts, cheese and fruit.
capirotada
This act granted U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans in 1917.
Jones Act
OR Jones-Shafroth Act
This Mexican-American film composer created the scores for Coco and Encanto.
Germaine Franco
This Brazilian physicist is renowned for his work on intersecting science, philosophy, and spirituality.
Marcelo Gleiser
This Brazilian gymnast won Olympic gold in the vault event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which inspired a new generation of Brazilian gymnasts.
Rebeca Andrade
This Nicaraguan street food wraps seasoned beef, plantains and yuca in banana leaves.
baho (or vaho)
This 1931 landmark case was the first successful school desegregation court decision in the U.S.
Alvarez vs. the Lemon
Grove School District
OR "The Lemon Grove Incident"