Last Wednesday, February 25, EF students gathered in Cena Quad to celebrate Black History Month with a fun and meaningful cookout. The event brought students together through food, music, and games. It created a lovely atmosphere on the campus. The celebration was organized to honor Black history and culture while giving students a chance to connect and enjoy the time with friends.
During the cookout, students enjoyed free donuts, music, and outdoor activities like basketball and ladder climbing games. A lot of students stopped by after class to hang out. The quad was filled with laughter and excitement as more students joined throughout the afternoon. The event felt welcoming and open to everyone.
Anna Helgesen, a 12th grader, shared her thoughts about the event. “It was really nice, the basketball was really fun,” she said. Although she mentioned she didn’t learn anything new about Black History Month, she said the donuts impressed her the most. “It made me feel like I had so much fun,” Helgesen added. When asked if she would like to see more events like this in the future, she answered quickly, “Yes! More events like this!”
Ms. Kaitlyn Sulaiman, one of the staff members who helped organize the cookout, explained that the goal of the Black History Month cookout was to create a space for celebration, education, and community in EF Academy. She said it was meaningful to see students show up and enjoy the event together. According to Sulaiman, celebrating Black History Month is important because schools are not just for academics, but also for learning about diversity, empathy, and global understanding.
This was the third annual Black heritage month event in EF Academy, and it was the largest one so far. Each year, the school has added more activities and student involvement. Sulaiman hopes students leave the event with a better understanding of Black History Month and greater appreciation for the many cultures represented at EF Academy, which includes 40 nationalities.
According to ASALH, Black History Month is celebrated every February in the United States to honor the achievements, history, and contributions of Black individuals and communities. It first began as Negro History Week in 1926 and later became a month-long celebration.
As an international school, EF Academy continues to recognize the importance of celebrating different cultures and backgrounds. Events like this cookout help bring students together while also reminding everyone about the value of diversity and inclusion on campus.
