SMC LASO celebrates the countries, territories, cultures, and student backgrounds represented across our campus community.
LASO highlights Latin American cultures and the additional backgrounds represented by members of the Spartanburg Methodist College community.
SMC LASO celebrates Latin American countries, cultures, and student backgrounds represented across our campus community.
LASO is open to all SMC students, including students from Latin American, Hispanic, international, and U.S. backgrounds.
Countries, territories, and cultures highlighted
21 Latin American countries and culturally Latin American territories celebrated by LASO, plus 3 additional countries represented by members.
This page highlights Latin American countries and additional countries connected to LASO members and the SMC community.
The list may grow as LASO welcomes more students and learns more about the cultures represented on campus.
LASO celebrates the Latin American region through culture, education, student leadership, and community connection.
Known for tango, fútbol, literature, regional traditions, and a strong cultural identity shaped by European, Indigenous, and Latin American influences.
Part of the Latin American region that LASO celebrates and represents culturally.
Learn more about Argentina
Known for Indigenous heritage, Andean culture, traditional music, salt flats, and deep connections to Quechua and Aymara communities.
Part of the Latin American region that LASO celebrates and represents culturally.
Learn more about Bolivia
Known for Portuguese-speaking Latin American culture, samba, Carnaval, futebol, the Amazon, and a wide range of regional traditions.
Part of the Latin American region that LASO celebrates and represents culturally.
Learn more about Brazil
Known for poetry, coastal culture, the Andes, the Atacama Desert, Patagonia, and strong traditions in food, music, and literature.
Part of the Latin American region that LASO celebrates and represents culturally.
Learn more about Chile
Known for music, coffee, art, regional diversity, and cultural traditions that connect Caribbean, Andean, Pacific, and Amazonian influences.
Current LASO member roots are connected to this country.
Learn more about Colombia
Known for Pura Vida, biodiversity, coffee, national parks, and a strong cultural connection to nature, peace, education, and community.
Current LASO member roots are connected to this country.
Learn more about Costa Rica
Known for son cubano, salsa, literature, baseball, Afro-Caribbean traditions, and a rich cultural history across the island.
Part of the Latin American region that LASO celebrates and represents culturally.
Learn more about Cuba
Known for merengue, bachata, baseball, Caribbean culture, family traditions, and the historic city of Santo Domingo.
Current LASO member roots are connected to this country.
Learn more about Dominican Republic
Known for Andean traditions, the Galápagos Islands, Indigenous cultures, coastal communities, and rich regional diversity.
Part of the Latin American region that LASO celebrates and represents culturally.
Learn more about Ecuador
Known for pupusas, volcanoes, beaches, community traditions, and a strong Salvadoran cultural identity.
Current LASO member roots are connected to this country.
Learn more about El Salvador
Known for Mayan heritage, colorful textiles, marimba music, volcanoes, traditional foods, and deep cultural history.
Current LASO member roots are connected to this country.
Learn more about Guatemala
Known for Haitian Creole culture, art, music, history, community resilience, and French-language connections within Latin America.
Part of the Latin American region that LASO celebrates and represents culturally.
Learn more about Haiti
A U.S. territory with a strong Caribbean and Latin American cultural identity, known for music, food, literature, history, and community pride.
Culturally connected to the broader Latin American and Caribbean region that LASO celebrates and represents.
Learn more about Puerto Rico
Known for baleadas, Garifuna culture, Mayan heritage at Copán, Caribbean coast traditions, and strong family-centered communities.
Current LASO member roots are connected to this country.
Learn more about Honduras
Known for regional food, music, Día de los Muertos, Indigenous heritage, art, history, and one of the largest Spanish-speaking cultures in the world.
Current LASO member roots are connected to this country.
Learn more about Mexico
Known for poetry, volcanoes, lakes, traditional dances, Central American history, and community-centered cultural traditions.
Part of the Latin American region that LASO celebrates and represents culturally.
Learn more about Nicaragua
Known for the Panama Canal, Afro-Caribbean culture, Indigenous communities, music, food, and its role as a cultural crossroads.
Part of the Latin American region that LASO celebrates and represents culturally.
Learn more about Panama
Known for Guaraní language and identity, harp music, tereré, strong traditions, and a unique bilingual national culture.
Part of the Latin American region that LASO celebrates and represents culturally.
Learn more about Paraguay
Known for Andean heritage, Machu Picchu, Peruvian cuisine, Indigenous traditions, music, textiles, and coastal and Amazonian cultures.
Part of the Latin American region that LASO celebrates and represents culturally.
Learn more about Peru
Known for mate, fútbol, tango traditions, coastal culture, literature, and a strong sense of community and civic life.
Part of the Latin American region that LASO celebrates and represents culturally.
Learn more about Uruguay
Known for arepas, joropo music, Caribbean and Andean influences, natural beauty, and a strong cultural presence across Latin America.
Part of the Latin American region that LASO celebrates and represents culturally.
Learn more about VenezuelaThese countries are also represented through LASO members and the broader SMC community.
Spain is not part of Latin America, but it is a Hispanic country with language, cultural, and historical connections to many Latin American communities.
Additional country represented by LASO members and the SMC community.
Learn more about Spain
Germany is included as an additional country represented by LASO members, showing that LASO welcomes students from all backgrounds.
Additional country represented by LASO members and the SMC community.
Learn more about Germany
The United States is included because LASO is based at Spartanburg Methodist College and welcomes students from across the SMC community.
Additional country represented by LASO members and the SMC community.
Learn more about United StatesA quick reference of countries, capitals, languages, regions, and LASO connections.
| Country | Capital | Language | Region | LASO Connection | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Buenos Aires | Spanish | South America | Latin American region | World Population Review — Argentina |
| Bolivia | Sucre | Spanish, Quechua, Aymara | South America | Latin American region | World Population Review — Bolivia |
| Brazil | Brasília | Portuguese | South America | Latin American region | World Population Review — Brazil |
| Chile | Santiago | Spanish | South America | Latin American region | World Population Review — Chile |
| Colombia | Bogotá | Spanish | South America | Member roots | World Population Review — Colombia |
| Costa Rica | San José | Spanish | Central America | Member roots | World Population Review — Costa Rica |
| Cuba | Havana | Spanish | Caribbean | Latin American region | World Population Review — Cuba |
| Dominican Republic | Santo Domingo | Spanish | Caribbean | Member roots | World Population Review — Dominican Republic |
| Ecuador | Quito | Spanish | South America | Latin American region | World Population Review — Ecuador |
| El Salvador | San Salvador | Spanish | Central America | Member roots | World Population Review — El Salvador |
| Guatemala | Guatemala City | Spanish and Mayan languages | Central America | Member roots | World Population Review — Guatemala |
| Haiti | Port-au-Prince | Haitian Creole and French | Caribbean | Latin American region | World Population Review — Haiti |
| Puerto Rico | San Juan | Spanish and English | Caribbean | Latin American region | World Population Review — Puerto Rico |
| Honduras | Tegucigalpa | Spanish | Central America | Member roots | World Population Review — Honduras |
| Mexico | Mexico City | Spanish | North America / Latin America | Member roots | World Population Review — Mexico |
| Nicaragua | Managua | Spanish | Central America | Latin American region | World Population Review — Nicaragua |
| Panama | Panama City | Spanish | Central America | Latin American region | World Population Review — Panama |
| Paraguay | Asunción | Spanish and Guaraní | South America | Latin American region | World Population Review — Paraguay |
| Peru | Lima | Spanish, Quechua, Aymara | South America | Latin American region | World Population Review — Peru |
| Uruguay | Montevideo | Spanish | South America | Latin American region | World Population Review — Uruguay |
| Venezuela | Caracas | Spanish | South America | Latin American region | World Population Review — Venezuela |
| Spain | Madrid | Spanish | Europe | Additional member country | World Population Review — Spain |
| Germany | Berlin | German | Europe | Additional member country | World Population Review — Germany |
| United States | Washington, D.C. | English | North America | Additional member country | World Population Review — United States |
Culture helps students feel seen, welcomed, and connected. LASO highlights countries and cultures to celebrate identity and build understanding across campus.
By learning about each other's backgrounds, students can build stronger friendships, leadership, and community at Spartanburg Methodist College.
Learn more about how LASO represents countries, cultures, and student backgrounds at SMC.
Yes. SMC LASO celebrates and represents the full Latin American region through culture, education, student leadership, campus involvement, and community events. This page highlights Latin American countries and culturally Latin American territories, including Haiti and Puerto Rico, while also recognizing additional countries represented by LASO members.
Current LASO member backgrounds include Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Spain, Germany, and the United States. LASO may add more member-background countries as the organization continues to grow.
No. Spain is not part of Latin America. However, Spain is a Hispanic country and shares the Spanish language and historical connections with many Latin American cultures. LASO includes Spain as an additional country represented by members.
Yes. LASO is open to all Spartanburg Methodist College students. Students do not have to be Latin American or Hispanic to join. LASO welcomes anyone interested in culture, community, leadership, friendship, and campus involvement.
LASO highlights countries and cultures because culture is personal and educational. Recognizing the full Latin American region helps preserve the identity of the organization, celebrate diversity at SMC, and give students a way to learn more about Latin America and one another.
Join LASO to connect with students, celebrate culture, and get involved at Spartanburg Methodist College.
