Upstate’s sixth annual International Festival, sponsored by the university’s International Student Association, kicks off at 6 p.m. Thursday April 19 on the 9th floor of Weiskotten Hall.
Thinking about checking it out? Chinaza Egbuta, president of Upstate’s International Student Association, says you should.
“There are 3 things I have to say with regards to the International Festival,” Chinaza said. “One, it will be culturally enriching; two, it will feature the most amazing food at a student organized event, and three, I wouldn’t miss it if I were you!”
The International Festival provides an opportunity for everyone at Upstate to showcase their home countries, as well as experience other cultures through musical and dance performances, food exhibits, and poster presentations. “Every year, we encourage the many ‘ambassadors’ here at Upstate to participate in this enriching event,” Chinaza said.
Thursday’s festivities begin in the 9th-floor auditorium with vocal, dance and instrumental performances by Upstate students from different countries and performances by members of the Syracuse community.
Then it’s on to the cafeteria for the “food festival” that features a variety of stations with international dishes from various food vendors in the Syracuse area. Several students also will showcase native dishes and artifacts from their countries.
Chinaza said the International Student Association (ISA) brings together the greatly diverse international community at Upstate and supports international causes on campus. The ISA consolidates elements from the distinct and richly diverse cultural backgrounds of our students and shares them with the Upstate community at a cultural, academic, and social level, Chinaza said.