Featuring 31 booths and over 120 student participants, this year’s annual culture fair and assembly took place on Nov. 8, raising over $9,000. Student Council (STUCO) is in charge of organizing the culture fair and the money earned goes towards Double Wolf Dare Week (DWDW).
The fair was held in the big gym this year. Students attending during their history or foreign language class were able to purchase tickets outside of the gym. These tickets were then used as currency within the fair to purchase all the different food and drinks offered by the many different booths.
According to junior STUCO Philanthropy Chair, Suri Fernandes, three months of work was put into the planning of the fair. The fair is a very important event to STUCO.
“Santa Fe has always been known for being the most diverse school, but it’s important to see your peers’ lives outside of the four walls at Santa Fe,” Fernandes said.
Mango Lassi, waffles, Shirley Temples, horchata, crab rangoons, mac and cheese and Vietnamese coffee are just a few of the things that were offered at the culture fair.
India is the most multilingual country in the world as of 2024. Junior Alina Mohammed is one of the students that ran the India booth.
“India is really diverse,” Mohammed said. “They’re over hundreds of languages spoken in almost every state. Also, the food is really popular. I think it’s nice to just have everything.”
Sophomore Ani Faisal helped run the Pakistan booth. Faisal says that many people confuse Pakistan and Bangladesh, despite being two separate countries with separate cultures.
“Since we have the culture fair, you get to go around and see these booths and see what their food is like [or] what traditions they practice,” Faisal said. “[The culture fair] is important in distinguishing the two countries, Pakistan and Bangladesh, for example. India, Bangladesh and Pakistan all dress like each other in some way, but our mannerisms [are] very different from other cultures.”
Santa Fe is the only Edmond high school that has a culture fair. It’s been an important part of student life at Santa Fe since it started. Senior Arsema Simachew has been running the Ethiopian booth all four years of high school.
“I just think it’s really what the core of Santa Fe is,” Simachew said. “It’s such a diverse school, and it’s so beautiful that everyone could come together and share each other’s culture like this.”
Santa Fe is home to many immigrant students from all over the world. Junior Val Gomez is an immigrant from Colombia who helped run the booth for Spanish Club.
“For me, it’s really important for people to know my culture, especially as an immigrant,” Gomez said. “[Colombian culture has] a warm feeling, like we always include everyone. You could be walking down the street, and they’d say hi to you like you’re best friends. We love to share. We care more about others than ourselves. I think that’s something that represents Colombia.”
Many students at Santa Fe with diverse backgrounds are a part of the many cultural clubs that Santa Fe has to offer, such as the Black Student Union (BSU), Native American Student Association (NASA), Desi club, Chinese club, German club and more. Junior Emme Shum is the president of Chinese club and helped run their booth.
“[The culture fair] kind of just goes to show our diversity and how appreciative we are of the cultures of the world,” Emme Shum said.
The culture fair doesn’t just benefit those who run booths or perform in the talent show; attendees of the fair also appreciate the feelings of connectedness and acceptance.
“I think, especially as someone who isn’t from the US, it’s really nice seeing other people who are different from the norm,” Senior Nasia Zisopoulou and Greek immigrant said.
The culture fair is an integral part of Santa Fe as it helps students feel comfortable and accepted in their identities. Be on the lookout for more DWDW events here.
