Lambert’s 2026 International Night took place April 2 in the Lambert cafeteria, presenting a diverse array of cultural traditions through events, performances, and booths.
International Night was a remarkable opportunity for many students to create connections with other students from different cultural backgrounds, while also teaching their peers about their countries’ unique traditions. This year dozens of countries, ranging from the Phillipines, Mexico to Romania, got the chance to be represented by students running country booths.
“I first went to International Night my freshmen year…and I didn’t see any recognition from my country, which is the Philippines,” International Club Co-President Gabriela Ortlep recalled. “So I talked to Señora Dodds and Señora Potter about this and then got involved in the club, and now there’s representation for the Philippines!”
The inclusion of a wider variety of countries in International Night also serves as a facet for students to meet other peers of the same ethnicity, allowing them to connect over shared experiences and cultural traditions. Students hosting their own country booths are encouraged to wear their country’s ethnic attire and bring traditional food to serve to other International Night participants. Through sharing food, knowledge and stories booth hosts are helping create a more culturally aware environment at Lambert.
Besides the country booths, a large part of this year’s International Night was the cultural performances that also took place in the cafeteria. A couple of technical changes were made this year to better performance quality and improve the overall experience for both performers and the audience.
“Last year, the performances didn’t really have the emphasis they needed, because they didn’t have proper sound systems or a proper stage,” Ortlep explained. “So [this year] we’re really focusing on getting those performances to get the recognition they deserve.”
Thanks to higher tech speakers and a larger stage, the Indian Classical Dance Club, Lambert KPOP Dance Club, Lambert Agni Dance Team, IVERY, Browntown Seniors, soloist Yun Kin Lin and national anthem singer Niyu Nalluri all had incredibly successful performances.
The impact International Night has on connecting students and cultures is immeasurable. Lambert is an incredibly large school with over 3,000 students making up dozens of different ethnicities. International Night has been a unique experience that lets these students share what they are proud of from their cultures. Through sharing foods, dances, songs and knowledge, Lambert students were able to connect with their peers like never before, creating a truly memorable experience for all International Night attendees.
