Los Medanos College students were encouraged to let their hair down at the Honors Club’s annual International Thanksgiving potluck held Friday, Nov. 20 in Library Room L-109 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Though most people didn’t start showing up until 6:15 p.m., there were multiple volunteers bringing in food and helping decorate.
Unlike last year’s event, members from other LMC sects and clubs such as Alpha Gamma Sigma as well as friends and family of those associated with Honors, were invited to join in on the fun as well.
Honors’ Social Ambassadors Kristen and Jerome Ner were key players in coordinating the event. “We asked our advisor and she helped us rent the room for the night,” said Kirsten Ner. Though there was help from Honors’ advisor Janette Bustos Borocio, Kirsten Ner said, “it’s a student-run event.”
“It took about three weeks to plan,” said Jerome Ner, who, in addition to setting up the party, also made the turkey.
Those who planned to attend were encouraged to bring food that reflects their “cultural background for a chance to win ‘Best Dish Contest.’”
Handmade decorations, flags, festive lights and tables adorned with colorful tablecloths filled the room as attendees spread out to join the different activities. In one corner by the door, a table was set up so students could play the game Marvel vs. Capcom. There was a separate table set aside specifically for tabletop and board games. There were also two sections for students to write letters of appreciation to teachers or veterans, wounded warriors, new recruits and deployed soldiers.
AGS and Honors member Addie Lyon, who wrote a letter to someone deployed, noted the party “had a pretty great turnout” and that she was indeed “having a lot of fun.”
Music from a Spotify playlist filled the room as students let loose and danced to DJ Casper’s “Cha Cha Slide” and Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie.” A steadily increasing group of people danced with one another as pop hit after hit played in the background.
Honors member Mariela Vega, convinced by her friends to partake in that night’s festivities, seemed to enjoy her time there.
“I’m mostly looking forward to dancing,” she said. “I’m hoping they turn the music up even louder.”
Vega also noted the amount of people who showed up was more than she expected. One reason for the number of people in attendance could be due to the careful planning of the social committee.
“We tried to make it one day close to Thanksgiving, but also convenient for everyone,” said Kirsten Ner.
“It’s getting to the stressful part of the semester,” she added, stressing the importance of quality bonding time. We needed to make time “so we can eat, talk and write letters.”
LMC student Todd Hirtler was a fan of the “comfortable atmosphere.” Though he hadn’t yet danced, Hirtler said he was looking forward to doing so and said the best thing about the evening was enjoying the “food and friends.”
Kirsten Ner further expressed her opinion on the importance of such events because it gives students a chance to “get to know one another.”