Annual Celebration of Culture to showcase international food, traditions Nov. 17

Students enjoy treats from the United Kingdom during last year's Celebration of Culture at MC.

A Spanish potato omelet may seem an unlikely object to attract new friends, but Victoria Garrido’s contribution to last year’s Celebration of Culture event at Mississippi Christian University (MC) drew quite a crowd to her booth.

“Food is such an important part of Spanish culture, and it made me really happy to bring something from home and share it with people who might never have tried it before,” said Garrido, a senior business administration major from Almeria, Spain. “Being so far away from Spain, moments like that make me feel a little closer to home.”

The International Institute at MC will showcase the wide array of cultures represented by its students at the annual Celebration of Culture food festival. The event is scheduled from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, in Anderson Hall on the second floor of the B.C. Rogers Student Center on MC’s Clinton campus.

The celebration will feature food, fellowship and activities that reflect rich heritages from around the world, as well as a silent auction to benefit scholarships for international students at MC. Admission is free, and all are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Richard Ladner, director of MC’s International Institute, said about 20 countries will be represented at the celebration.

“Celebration of Culture is one of our flagship events of the year,” Ladner said. “It’s designed to help the campus and the community learn about cultures that they might not otherwise experience, primarily through something we all enjoy here in the South, which is food.”

About 130 international students representing 35 different countries attend MC. Event attendees will grow in their knowledge of different cultures by sampling traditional food items and interacting with MC’s international students at tables representing their home countries.

“That is what makes the Celebration of Culture so special: it gives international students an opportunity to share a part of who we are with the MC community,” Garrido said.

Yu-Hsiang Huang, a senior finance major from Taipei, Taiwan, said the event provides an opportunity for MC students to connect and learn from one another.

“It reminds me that even though we may come from different parts of the world, we can still build meaningful friendships and connections,” Huang said. “I am grateful that MC continues to provide a welcoming environment where different cultures can come together and be celebrated.”

“Being in the U.S. for college, our international students are surrounded by American culture and are looking for a chance to share their culture with others,” Ladner said. “Celebration of Culture provides a great opportunity for them to share what makes them proud about their cultures in a more personal setting.”

The annual event is popular with members of the local community, who can sample the smorgasbord of international cuisine while mingling with MC students.

“It’s great to see community members enjoying having a conversation with someone and realizing that they’re more closely aligned with students from a different country than they might have thought,” Ladner added.

That’s what Anna Kate Tucker, a senior accounting major from New Zealand, appreciates the most about the Celebration of Culture.

“Events like this are important because they bring people together and help create a greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures,” Tucker said. “MC has students from so many different backgrounds.

“It helps international students feel represented and gives other students the chance to learn about the world without having to travel.”

For more information about the MC International Institute’s Celebration of Culture, visit mc.edu/international/events/celebration-culture or email Rachel Dusenberry at rdusenberry@mc.edu.