Proud Marquette High Seniors Reflect on Their Four-Year Involvement with Culture Fest

Emma Carcamo and Lucas Tourinho became members of the Marquette High Student Belonging and Equity Club during their first year at the school. The next year, they helped bring Culture Fest – formerly Festival of Nations – into existence.

Their involvement in planning the annual Culture Fest event grew more significant as time passed.

“The second year was our first time fully organizing and running the event,” Carcamo shared. “The main purpose behind starting this event was to have a way for everyone to feel like they belong. We are the most diverse high school in our district, and this event allows us to share what makes us so diverse with the student body and people outside the school. We also have a large immigrant community, and this event is a way to reach out to them and bring everyone together.”

Tourinho learned that the club he had joined wanted to advocate for diversity in the school.

“That was what geared me into this path,” he said. “We learned what it took to run the event by going to the planning meetings. It wasn't until junior year that we got the official title of president.”

Carcamo and Tourinho became co-presidents of the club during junior year. For this year's event, they contacted performers from the past two events, students who had previously run booths and the general student body.

“We had meetings once a week where people had time to work on their posters and where we also gave updates and reminders,” Carcamo said.

Culture Fest is an event that showcases the many cultures represented in the Marquette school community through food, dance, songs and other artistic expressions.

“I enjoy the food and performances the most, and as a dancer, I love learning and seeing other dance styles,” Carcamo said. “I had a booth this year and the past two years, which was the Honduras booth, and we had food there. Most of it were things that I made, and one of the things I love about this event is how it gives you time to reconnect with your culture, whether it is through research or making the food.”

For Tourinho, it was more than sharing his Brazilian background and the chocolate brigadeiro he brought for attendees to sample.

“This event opened doors for me and allowed me to take on more responsibility and better my communication skills,” he said. “I am very grateful for the opportunity with the Marquette Culture Fest.”

As the two seniors prepare to move on from high school, they are proud that they’ve positively impacted their school community.

“I feel proud and honored that I got to organize and participate in this event and that I had the opportunity to help improve it each year,” Carcamo said. “It brings me so much joy to hear what a positive impact this brought on both participants and attendees. I am proud that I was able to contribute to making this school a more inclusive place. It has truly been a treat planning, organizing and participating in an event like this. I highly encourage all students to try to participate in future events.”