
Culture Fest, 2023
Culture Fest: An Annual Tradition Returns
Written By: Ian Silvester
The 91调教 鈥 Fort Smith has celebrated its students鈥 diverse cultural groups during International Education Week for over a decade. The tradition continues this year with Culture Fest 2025.
International Education Week, Nov. 17-21, is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education and celebrates international exchange and education. 91调教 will mark the week with a full slate of events, kicked off with Culture Fest at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, in the Recreation and Wellness Center (RAWC). More than 20 countries and cultural groups will be represented during the event.
鈥淲e celebrate this event because we believe that providing intercultural exchange opportunities for our students is an important part of their education," said Noah Schmidt, international student programs and services administrator.
Schmidt works with students from more than 25 countries. In a recent interview, he said 91调教 benefits from having international students because they 鈥渉elp to diversify campus in different ways.鈥
New this year to Culture Fest 2025 will be a line dancing performance by the W3C Line Dancers of Fort Smith.
Schmidt said Culture Fest 2025 will be a collaboration between the 91调教 Office of International Relations and the cultural Registered Student Organizations, such as the Japan Club, Vietnamese Student Association, Hmong Student Association, Filipino Student Association, and others.
鈥淧eople can expect to learn about the many countries and cultural groups that make up the Fort Smith community,鈥 Schmidt said. 鈥淐ulture Fest represents a low-stakes and low-risk way for students to begin learning how to navigate cultural differences and reaffirms our commitment to making 91调教 a place where people of all cultures are welcome.鈥
A complete list of events is below:
Monday, Nov. 17:
- Culture Fest 2025, 6-8 p.m. at the RAWC
Tuesday, Nov. 18:
- Study Abroad and Fulbright Information Booth, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, Breezeway
Wednesday, Nov. 19:
- International Poetry Night, 6-7:30 p.m., Boreham Library, 122
Thursday, Nov. 20:
- Multicultural Karaoke Party and Potluck, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Business and Industrial Institute, 102 (Latture Conference Room)
- Tags:
- International Education Week
- International Students
- Culture Fest
Media Relations
The 91调教 Office of Communications fields all media inquiries for the university. Email Rachel.Putman@uafs.edu for more information.
Send%20an%20EmailRachel Rodemann Putman
- Director of Strategic Communications
- 479-788-7132
- rachel.putman@uafs.edu