Students gathered in the school gym for an evening of culture, creativity and community during the recent cultural fair hosted by the school’s Key Club.
The event featured booths representing countries from around the world, offering games, decorations, facts, and activities that allowed students to learn more about different cultures while supporting the club’s mission of service and inclusion.
Senior Preston Curtis played a major role in organizing the event and helping ensure everything came together successfully.
Curtis worked behind the scenes for weeks preparing materials, organizing tasks and helping other students stay on schedule before the fair officially opened to students and families.
“My role in organizing the cultural fair involved helping keep the team on track and ensuring all posters and banners were completed,” Curtis said. “With a long list of tasks to complete, I worked alongside others to make sure everything was finished in time for the event.”
In addition to organizing decorations and supplies, Curtis also helped research and purchase items needed for the various booths. As the event approached, preparation became increasingly busy as students worked to finalize displays and activities.
“Leading up to the fair, my main responsibility was helping organize tasks and making sure everything that needed to be done was accounted for,” Curtis said. “During the event, I helped ensure everything ran smoothly.”
One of the most popular attractions during the fair was the Italy booth, which Curtis personally helped create. The display featured famous landmarks and activities inspired by Italian culture.
Although Curtis has never visited Italy, he used his own interests and knowledge to design the booth in a way that would capture students’ attention.
“I’ve always been fascinated by its culture and famous landmarks, such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Colosseum,” Curtis said. “That influenced the theme and elements I chose to showcase.”
Throughout the event, students moved from booth to booth learning about traditions, geography, and cultural customs from around the world. Many participants interacted with games and activities created by students, helping make the fair both educational and entertaining.
While the event was successful, Curtis admitted that the day itself came with plenty of pressure. Organizers had to manage setup, coordinate volunteers and ensure activities stayed organized throughout the evening.
“From my perspective, the day of the event was somewhat stressful, as there was a lot to manage and ensure everything went according to plan,” Curtis said. “There was definitely some concern about how the event would turn out, but in the end, it was a success thanks to the strong turnout of volunteers and attendees.”
Despite the stress, Curtis said seeing students actively participate made all the hard work worthwhile. His favorite moment came from running the Italy booth and interacting directly with attendees.
“I really enjoyed interacting with attendees, watching them participate in the game I created, and giving out small prizes,” Curtis said. “It was rewarding to see people engaged and having fun.”
Beyond entertainment, the fair also reflected the values that Key Club hopes to promote throughout the school community.
“I hope they left with a sense of compassion, cultural awareness, and an interest in getting involved with the club,” Curtis said.
The cultural fair ultimately provided students with an opportunity to celebrate diversity while strengthening connections across campus, showing how student led events can create both fun and meaningful experiences for the school community.
