Elwood-John H. Glenn High School held its annual International Night on March 20, coordinated by Nicole Gendjoian. Each year, students are invited to bring food or create a station to showcase their heritage or any country they are interested in as a way to embrace diversity and celebrate different cultures from around the world during National Foreign Language Month.

More than 300 people including students, faculty and family members gathered in the cafeteria at the evening event to sample foods from 50 student-run stations featuring Latin American, Japanese, Greek, Brazilian, Filipino, Irish, Guyanese, South Asian, Spanish, Pakistani, Jamaican and Italian, among others. Additionally, Nicole Correia’s American Sign Language students entertained the attendees with their interpretations of the songs “Don't Stop Believing” and “Where Is the Love?”

Station contest winners were Camila Avila, Alicia Gonzales, Sabrina Howe and Rachel Kim, who presented a Latin American station, and Kainaat Malhi, Maha Malhi, Meerab Malhi, Alaina Qureshi, Alina Qumar and Maryam Yasir, who presented a Pakistani station.

“It was so nice to see people enjoy the foods that i grew up eating,” freshman Alaina Qureshi said.

“International Night not only provided me an opportunity to celebrate my culture with my peers, but with my family as well,” sophomore Camila Avila said. “The experience was made possible through collaboration with my relatives, who felt overjoyed at the idea of being able to represent their country. They have expressed their gratitude to the school for providing a welcoming space to cultivate and celebrate diversity.”

Date Added: 4/9/2024