More than a thousand people gathered in the Great Hall for meals from all around the world. Full of personalized tables celebrating different backgrounds, the school’s community embraces it all. Whether it’s students or faculty members, family or extended relatives, the school joins to cherish its rich diversity, culture and traditions. Marksmen Multicultural Night (MMN) was back, five years after its inaugural event.
Starting in 2021, MMN has become one of the school’s largest events, ingraining itself into students’ calendars annually to celebrate inclusion and diversity. An initial concern of one of MMN’s founders Enoch Ellis ’22 was how long the event could carry on and whether or not it would continue after his graduation. Although there were doubts, MMN has solidified its place at the school.
“It feels like a fundamental tradition and part of St. Mark’s,” IDLC co-chair Reagan Graeme said. “That’s one of the inherent things at St. Mark’s. When you think of big activities, at least for me, you think of graduation, you think of Pecos, you think of character and leadership education and you think of Marksmen Multicultural Night.”
Aside from the food and performances, members of the school community can immerse themselves in several cultures. Where the incredible diversity of the school can hide behind the wall of busy school life, MMN shines a special light on the importance of culture.
“It’s that cultural awareness,” Graeme said. “It’s that togetherness, that sense of unity and mutual respect that MMN fosters, that’s so immeasurable but so impactful in the same community. I know that it’s going to be even stronger this year.”
The IDLC worked alongside Director of Inclusion and Diversity and Human Resources Lorre Allen and Administrative Assitant Jennifer Scott to pull off the annual event. Committees like the Cultural Arts Commitee worked with outside vendors to lead cultural dances and art activities, such as henna tatooing.
“Especially with Mrs. Allen and Miss Scott — they’re doing stuff that even people on the executive team of the IDLC don’t know (about),” Graeme said. “They’re really, really working hard for that. The administration, Mr. Dini, he’s been incredibly helpful with this and incredibly supportive of the IDLC as a whole.”
For Graeme, this MMN was special. Battling weather issues, adaptations were necessary. Additionally, this year marks his last MMN. After years of being involved with the event, Graeme will certainly miss it. But he is excited for the future.
“This year’s MMN was truly a night to remember,” Graeme said. “Despite the weather stifling our plans for food and performances in the quad and amphitheater, we were able to adapt, forming a rich and celebratory atmosphere inside. The engagement from the younger students made this very special, and it’s so exciting to know that this celebration is a staple in their St. Mark’s career, that they’ll get to see how this tradition grows over their twelve years in a St. Mark’s uniform.”
The event doesn’t spontaneously emerge. In order to make each MMN better than the last, the IDLC surpasses boundaries and expectations.
“Before the end of the school year, we will have already outlined our plans, and the IDLC will have determined which countries that we’re going to specifically highlight through the events and activities that will occur,” Allen said. “And so that is done before school ends in May. It requires weekend work. Evening work. It requires IDLC to meet weekly in mid-January to start outlining and understanding better how Marksmen Multicultural Night will run.”
After the IDLC has put in the necessary work for such an event to take place, it’s up to the community to make MMN as special as possible. When eager boys and parents talk about MMN, the excitement grows and circulates around the campus.
“We start hearing about Marksmen multicultural night from people before we even go on Christmas break,” Allen said. “So I think the enthusiasm just builds. And then when we do our invitations and put up the posters around campus, I think that builds momentum and enthusiasm. I am always excited about Marksmen Multicultural Night.”
This event is special to more than a thousand people across the community. As the years go on, Graeme is certain that the night will continue to evolve and transform.
“It was a bittersweet feeling knowing that this was my last MMN, but I got to be very involved with and responsible for the outcome of the night,” Graeme said. “I really enjoyed getting to show my little buddy, Beckham, around all the displays and tables. It was great to see him so engaged with the cultural richness on display. The passion that so many younger students bring to the night reassures me that MMN will remain such an important part of the St. Mark’s community.”