The scene on Thursday afternoon was fitting for the historic occasion: A group of Colombians, Nicaraguans and Cubans meeting at a Peruvian restaurant in Miami to toast a Puerto Rican woman's ascent to the highest court in the land.

``We did it!'' shouted Nubia Rodriguez over the cheers of a dozen others who celebrated the Senate confirmation of federal appellate court judge Sonia Sotomayor to a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.

The diversity of Latinos at the Sabor a Peru restaurant on Biscayne Boulevard illustrates the pride Sotomayor's appointment represented to not just Puerto Ricans but to the nation's 45 million Hispanics.

And it's the story of her life that resonates with many Hispanics, who identify with her humble upbringing and cheer her success.

Born in a gritty Bronx neighborhood, Sotomayor was able to attend Catholic school because her widowed mother, Celina, worked six days a week to help pay tuition. Sotomayor went on to graduate from Princeton and Yale Law School.

``This is a prize to every Latino parent who toils and works hard to make sure their children can get ahead,'' said Miriyam Torres, glowing with pride as she watched a CNN broadcast of the Senate's vote at the restaurant.

Torres came to Miami eight years ago from Colombia, cleaning houses to help put her daughter Lisa through Florida International University.

``A new generation of young women will have the judge as a role model of what you can accomplish if you stay honest and work hard,'' Torres said.

Many Hispanic community leaders say having a Hispanic on the Supreme Court provides a sense of recognition and acceptance for the country's fastest-growing minority group.

There are roughly 45 million Latinos in the U.S. according to census estimates.

``It's great encouragement for up and coming Latino leaders to see that the community is being taken seriously,'' said Sandra Urquiza, South Florida coordinator for Democracia Ahora, a Hispanic advocacy group that organized Thursday's viewing party.

The excitement surrounding Sotomayor's confirmation had been steadily building for weeks. Months before Thursday's historic Senate vote, more than a dozen locally based Puerto Rican organizations and business owners started planning a gala for Wednesday to celebrate Sotomayor's appointment.

Live music and cocktails at the Doubletree Grand Hotel in downtown Miami are all part of the festivities planned next week to honor the selection of a Latina to the nation's highest court.

``It's an inspiration to all of us and our children, '' said Melvin ``Skip'' Chavez, event chair for the Puerto Rican Leadership Council. ``Further proof that this is the country of opportunity.''