Members of Hermanos Unidos de Brophy arrange a student-made ofrenda outside Keating Hall, honoring deceased loved ones ahead of Día de los Muertos observances at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix.
Brophy students built a campus ofrenda for Día de los Muertos, an effort their Spanish teacher and a participating student say demonstrates the tradition’s significance and sustained student work.
Honors Spanish 3 teacher Ms. Kim Baron said the class organized and curated the display with extensive preparation.
“I am so proud of the work that they have done,” said Ms. Baron, noting that students, “spent countless hours … coming together to bring artifacts and other cultural elements and involving the community.”
Ms. Baron said the ofrenda is “tremendous … a beautiful ofrenda … and authentic” and emphasized its purpose.
“It celebrates and honors the lives of those who have passed on and shares a way to connect and to stay close with our loved ones … which is always a really beautiful thing when we get to bear witness to cultural traditions.”
The display, photographs, food offerings, marigolds, and personal mementos aimed to make the tradition visible on campus and invite participation.
“Seeing the ofrenda made me feel encouraged—my Hispanic culture was represented,” said Braulio Garcia Lopez ’28. “It showed people cared, placing food, marigolds, and photos of loved ones to honor their memory.”
Students said the class gathered items over several days, inviting contributions from peers and teachers to honor family members and friends. For many, the ofrenda offered a moment of remembrance and a shared space for belonging.
Día de los Muertos centers on welcoming and remembering departed loved ones; the ofrenda is a focal point, where families place photos, favorite foods, candles, and marigolds as signs of love and continuity. On campus, students echoed that purpose by building a community altar that connected classroom learning to lived tradition.