The annual Multicultural Night, organized by the Diversity Club, took place on February 6, bringing students, staff, and families together to celebrate cultures around the world through presentations, performances, and food. The performances included 10 presentations by exchange students and five cultural groups.
The event, which takes months of preparation, is the biggest event produced by the Diversity Club. According to Luisa Rivera, the head of the club’s decoration committee, planning for the event began in early fall.
“We picked the date by October, if not before. When we came back from winter break, everything really kicked in — buying decorations, organizing committees, and planning performances,” Rivera said.
The Diversity Club divided responsibilities into multiple committees, including communications, decorations, and performances.
Junior Jillian McEachern helped lead the performance committee along with seniors Emily Evans and Eleanor Van Deusen.
Their job was making sure everything was set for Monday’s rehearsal and Friday’s performance.
“Our job included coordinating with performers, handling audio and presentations, and making sure everything ran smoothly,” McEachern said.
Van Deusen, who has participated in Multicultural Night for three years, focused on communication and logistics.
“I was the point of contact for clubs and administration,” Van Deusen said. “Because I’ve done this before, I could help answer questions and keep things on track.”
The night featured performances and presentations from several student groups, including the Ambassadors Club, Bollywood Music Club, the Muslim Student Association, and the K-Club.
One of the most impactful moments for organizers was the Quran recitation.
“That kind of religious experience, where someone is sharing something so meaningful with you, is really powerful,” McEachern said.
Abby Kao, one of the members of the K-Club, performed the K-pop dance “Untouchable” by ITZY. Kao said the performance was the result of months of dedication.
“We’ve been practicing since September,” Kao said. “I think all our hard work paid off.”
Another participant, Kenza Nedlou, represented Moroccan culture by sharing traditional dishes, including couscous and a homemade eggplant dish.
“In Morocco, food is very much a family thing,” Nedlou said. “You usually eat together from one big plate by hand.”
Adviser of the Ambassador Club Zyanya Hernandez worked closely with the exchange students to prepare their presentation and food for the event.
“It’s amazing to see how much better organized it gets every year,” Hernandez said. “The presentations were clear, entertaining, and really engaging.”
This year, there are Spanish, Swiss, German, Italian, Argentine, Brazilian, Japanese, Chinese, and Cambodian exchange students, and each of them created a presentation.
For many organizers, Multicultural Night is not only a celebration but also a learning experience for younger club members.
“It’s kind of a transition,” McEachern said. “The seniors pass on leadership, and younger members learn communication and organization skills.”
Rivera hopes students understand the meaning behind the event.
“Multicultural Night is a really nice event, whether you’re participating or just attending,” Rivera said. “It’s about understanding each other and appreciating each other.”
