Students from English as a Second Language classes participated in a friendly and symbolic competition to decorate alters in memory of famous musicians, actors, community leaders and loved ones.

Día de Muertos motivated the event at the Educational Cultural Complex today with over 100 people participating and attending.

“Día de Muertos is more than skulls and elaborate makeup,” said Linda Osborn, a faculty member at San Diego Continuing Education (SDCE), who also serves as SDCE’s Diversity Committee Chairperson.

“It's about celebrating and honoring loved ones who have passed away. It's not a Mexican Halloween. You may see calaveras (skulls), but Día de Muertos is about honoring the deceased by celebrating their life. The idea is to remember a person as they were before they went to the afterlife.”

One of the decorated areas was a special commemorative alter to honor Ramon “Chunky” Sanchez, a local community leader, musician and educator, and a friend of SDCE who sang a song called Educate Not Incarcerate, which can be seen in a message as part of the alter.