Michigan Technological University’s Festival of Nations brought together students and residents Saturday for the annual celebration of international culture, featuring a refreshed format and expanded grounds.
The event moved on from the longtime traditional parade, to keep all activities by the Dee Stadium and the Houghton Waterfront Pier. Marking a significant change to the event after nearly four decades.
International student organizations set up food booth inside the Dee Stadium, showcasing authentic dishes from around the world. The Nepal Student Organization served chicken mo:mo with Nepali potato salad, while the Society for Asian Scientists and Engineers offered potstickers and tanghulu. The Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers’ horchata proved so popular the organization sold out.
The menu each year reflects the diversity of Michigan Tech’s international student body, with selections from the region’s student call home.
“We have more of a focus on southern dishes,” said Aditya Cheruvu, secretary of the Indian Student Association. “Usually we’ll have one from the north and one from the south. But this time there was less intake of international students, so we have less Indian students as a result.”
The festival’s new location and coinciding with the university’s home coming presented challenges. Many students and alumni split their Saturday between the festival and homecoming activities happening simultaneously. Some students expressed disappointment about the loss of a traditional parade through town as well.
“The energy when the band was coming in and everybody’s dancing, with so many flags being raised and so many countries being represented, now it’s just kind of like, oh, well, I guess you could go to Dee Stadium, but there’s also a lot of other things going on,” said Janelly Sanchez-Puentes, a member of the Society for Professional Hispanic Engineers.
Despite the competing events, many students still made their way to the Portage Canal area to enjoy food and celebrate their heritage.
International student organizations at Michigan Tech have planned additional events throughout the school year. The Indian Student Association will host Diwali celebrations in November, followed by Bollywood night in collaboration with student government and Garba night, which celebrates one of the nights during Dasaras. Indian sports competitions are also scheduled for November and December.
“Being the only Hispanic and Latino organization at Tech, we try to focus on two main things: increasing the familia sense at Tech where people can find a family and belong, whether they are Hispanic or not, as well as focusing on professional development and empowering the next generation of Hispanics in STEM,” Sanchez-Puentes said.
For nearly four decades, the Festival of Nations has helped international students connect with peers on campus and the wider Houghton community. The event remains a cornerstone for students spending their next nine months away from home.
For more information about the Festival of Nations and international programs at Michigan Technological University, visit the university’s website.
