“Groups can decorate and organize their room in whatever way they want to showcase their culture,” Chepil says. “Student groups often share the food, clothing, customs and activities that give a glimpse of their daily life at home.”
The event will showcase stage performances on the first floor of Davies Center throughout the afternoon. This year’s featured performance is the Latin Dance Lab, that will be performing several dances and holding a salsa dance workshop at 2 p.m. in The Cabin.
Other performances include Irish, Taiwanese, Indian and Chinese dancers, plus readings from the Voices of the Valley immigrant narratives and Waldemar Ager Association, a local nonprofit dedicated to the study and preservation of Nordic culture in the Chippewa Valley.
An event turned student learning opportunity
CultureFest is not just a day of exchange and learning for attendees. Large-scale events like this one also present unique learning opportunities to students tasked with planning and execution. This year, three student interns were hired to split the main workloads involved in arranging and marketing CultureFest.
“We want CultureFest to be an experience that student interns can highlight in job applications and on their resumes,” Chepil says. “When they are asked about past experiences in event planning, communications, marketing or social media, our interns will be able to say, ‘Yes, I’ve done that — here’s what I’ve done and here’s what I learned.’”
Fellow CIE staff member Yiliu Yang agrees that the internship program for CultureFest is as much about student growth as it is about getting the work of the event planning done.
“The main learning goal we set for internships is to inspire students to do event planning with real-world experiences,” says Yang, manager of the Chinese program at UW-Eau Claire. “We hope they will develop strong communication skills, become positive team players and develop efficient time management and multitasking skills.”
Each of the three student interns shared a few highlights of the internships below, along with some tips for attendees in terms of what to expect for 2026.
Student experiences
Angela Xiong, a sophomore integrated strategic communications major from Weston
“This internship opportunity directly aligns with my career goals in event planning and marketing. My specific intern role is serving as the liaison to campus student groups, informing them of ways to participate and assisting them in the application and preparation for the event. We have made steady progress since starting to register participants in January, and more student groups are expected to register in these last weeks.
“Promoting CutlureFest has been a fun learning experience — the mission of the event really warms my heart. It is truly exhilarating to indulge in the many cultures, foods and performances here at CultureFest. Personally, I’m most looking forward to the fashion show, which is such a natural way to celebrate cultural identity and community representation. “
Gwen Albers, senior international business and marketing analytics double major from Denmark
“This internship interested me not only as a chance to do some different types of marketing and event planning, but because I had attended the event a couple times in the past and found it a great experience.
“At the 2023 CultureFest, I loved visiting the Korean Association's room as I was going to study abroad in South Korea the next spring. It was cool learning more about the culture and the place I would be living in for five months.
“My internship role is focused on the performances, pinning down the schedule and locations, and helping Angela coordinate the big fashion show which will close out the event. This job has confirmed for me that when it comes to event planning, communication is key. Our team has been effective in continual updates to one another through our meetings and emails. And we are sure to ask all the needed questions to ensure this event turns out great.”
Lianne Grafhorst, junior marketing major and international student from Dronten, Netherlands
“I was hoping to find an internship to gain more hands-on experience, and this one caught my eye because it matches my interests. As an international student, I enjoy learning about different cultures, especially while traveling. I also like joining events that include the campus and community. I’m considering a career in live marketing or event planning, so this internship seemed like a great way to get experience.
“Through this CultureFest internship, I’ve gained many useful skills for the future. In class, we learn a lot of marketing theory, but we don’t always get to apply them. In planning this major campus event, I’ve been able to apply what we discuss in class. I’m also improving my organization, teamwork and time-management skills as part of this intern team.
“College is a time and place to meet people from many different backgrounds, which I find incredibly valuable. At UW-Eau Claire, many students come from non-diverse communities, such as rural Wisconsin. Events like CultureFest give people the chance to share their own traditions, food, music and stories while also learning about others' cultures. It helps make the campus feel more welcoming and inclusive to everyone.”
