Miss Latina 2007 will be crowned in the Altgeld Ballroom today at 7 p.m.

Miss Latina is a cultural pageant sponsored by the Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority. Every organization under the Multicultural Greek Council dedicates a week to display its founding principles, which among Sigma Lambda Gamma are noted as academics, community service, social interaction, cultural awareness, morals and ethics.

“Each day we emphasize one of our values into a campus-wide activity. The Miss Latina pageant represents cultural awareness,” said Lissete Aguirre, a Sigma Lambda Gamma and Miss Latina coordinator.

The pageant will begin with a unity dance featuring four contestants dancing in harmony. Each participant will represent a culture that illustrates her ethnic history. The contestants will then be judged by five NIU faculty members on their culture garment, individual talent, formal-wear and interview.

“We strictly emphasize that Miss Latina is not a beauty pageant. It’s about how you portray your culture,” Aguirre said.

The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship. However, aside from the monetary prize, there are responsibilities held by the crown. Miss Latina must complete a minimum of 15 community service hours and speak at three campus events and three Latino Resource Center co-sponsored events.

Alejandra Carreno, named Miss Latina in 2006, completed a total of 56 community service hours after winning the title. Wearing the crown has allowed Carreno to act as a role model for Latina women across the NIU community, she said.

“My previous accomplishments at NIU have motivated me to continue to strive for success and lead by example,” Carreno said.

The pageant gives Latinas at NIU the opportunity to explore their roots and beautify their heritage.

“My advice to the new pageant winner is to take advantage of every opportunity by helping out the community while representing her community to the fullest,” Carreno said.

About 300 people are expected to show their support for the pageant, including friends and family of the contestants, NIU students, NIU faculty and DeKalb area residents.

The event is free, but Sigma Lambda Gamma is accepting donations for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.