2007 Retrospective
The Sixth Annual Diversity Celebration at
Appalachian State University
A Retrospective
In its sixth year, Appalachian State University’s 2007 Diversity Celebration was expanded to a week-long event, and much of that growing popularity has come from your support! Entertainment, educational activities, and ethnic foods have become staples for a successful event, while the festivities continue to increase in depth and dimension. In addition to the entertainers and educators that participate each year, we continue to add new and exciting programming. This year featured Appalachian’s People of the Planet Soccer Tournament. Held on consecutive Sundays (the first Sunday’s games were cut short because of weather), the tournament featured 4 exhibition games between teams Earth, Fire, Space, and Water. Since soccer is internationally renowned, we are striving to make this tournament a permanent part of the celebration. The eleventh annual Unity Festival as the featured event on Saturday provided an afternoon of family friendly fun with ample appeal for children and adults alike. A world of experience was felt by this year’s participating audience, through film and dance, sports and meditation, and as always, food and music.
Represented over the week’s festivities were a remarkable 27 different cultures, 15 art forms, 10 ethnic foods, 18 crafts and family activities, 17 ASU student organizations, 14 local performers/presenters, and 12 performers/ presenters from off the mountain. Equally remarkable were the contributions of over 200 volunteers, from ASU and the greater community, who were on hand during the three days to staff the events and guide the guests who filled every room and corner of Plemmons Student Union. Perhaps the most touching moment of community involvement was the parade of children carrying international flags as an opening ceremony to the soccer tournament.
Appalachian State University’s commitment to diversity is brightly illustrated each year through support of, and community reaction to the Diversity Celebration. So essential to a liberal arts education is a rich environment of culture, experience, and perspective woven into an institution curious about all of life’s people. The Diversity Celebration reflects this philosophy, and does so with an uncompromised energy.
Please help us make the seventh annual
Diversity Celebration the best yet –
April 8, 2008!
