The 7C International Student Community Programs Council (ISCPC) hosted its third annual International Festival at Claremont’s Flamson Plaza on Feb. 22, offering a celebration of global diversity.
The lively event showcased traditions, food and performances from 24 different countries, including Jamaica, Turkey, Kenya, Poland, Japan and Colombia.
Attendees had the opportunity to explore various booths representing each nation, where they could register for a plate and sample traditional dishes from across the world.
Among the offerings were Colombian soda, Finnish blueberry oat dessert, Palestinian warak dawali (stuffed grape leaves), Vietnamese banh beo (rice cakes) and Nigerian fried rice.
The festival also featured international performances, with the Los Angeles musical group “Colombia Latin Soul” filling the plaza with vibrant Latin sounds. 7C students and staff later took the stage to showcase their talents, while a colorful parade of traditional clothing highlighted the diversity of cultures at the event.
Luis Angel Mendoza CM ’25 expressed his appreciation for the festival’s inclusivity in its tabling selection.
“It was nice to see countries like Colombia, Palestine and others,” he said. “It’s really nice to see that they included as many countries as they can, just given the fact that CMC and the overall population is very diverse.”
He added that it was pleasant to see so many different people from across the consortium come together on such a nice day, with temperatures in the low 70s.
Throughout the day, students passing through the plaza took time to engage with the festival, sampling food, watching performances and enjoying the atmosphere.
Bernice Sule PO ’26 shared her appreciation for the opportunity to connect with fellow Nigerians at her booth.
“It’s a nice opportunity to be in community with other Nigerians because we’re pretty spread out across the campuses,” Sule said. “Most people come and ask, ‘Are you making jollof rice?’ because it’s one of the most famous Nigerian dishes, but we have other things to offer. Today, we’re showcasing chicken, fried rice, mocktails and other kinds of drinks.”
For Megan Tran HM ’28, the festival was a special opportunity to share her culture with others.
“This is my first time at IFest, and I think it’s a really good opportunity for students to come out and enjoy different cultures and interact with each other,” Tran said.
“For the Vietnamese Student Association booth, we’re serving cha gio [egg rolls] and banh beo,” she said. “It’s really nice to see people try my culture’s food and enjoy it.”
Representing Finland, Mai Hoglund PO ’28 was thrilled to share a piece of her heritage with the campus community.
“I’m really proud to have a table here. I’m one of the few Finnish students, and I’m really happy to represent my country at the colleges,” Hoglund said. “It’s a great chance to showcase that there are more than just Americans here and to share some great food with people.”
The 7C International Festival brought together students from across the Claremont Colleges to celebrate cultural diversity through food and performance. The event provided an opportunity for attendees to engage with a wide range of traditions, fostering understanding and connection within the community.
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