Signature Events
In addition to programming through the year, Multicultural Student Affairs offers a core group of programs we like to call our Signature Programs. These programs offer students symposiums, heritage month celebrations and recognitions for academic excellence. Find out more below, and mark your calendars!
Asian Pacific Islander South Asian American Heritage Month celebrates the collective accomplishments of the various communities that make up the APISAA population and is celebrated yearly March 15-April 15. In June 1977, representatives of California introduced a United States House of Representatives resolution to proclaim the first ten days of May as Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. In 1987, after Congress passed a Congressional Resolution, people started to commemorate Asian American Heritage Week during the first week of May. APISAA Heritage Month is celebrated on campus from March 15 – April 15 to give our students four full weeks of celebration after Spring Break and before finals.
Held each year at the beginning of the spring semester, the Freshman Honors Convocation recognizes Fall Symposium for Multicultural Scholars participants who achieve a 3.0 or higher grade point average during their first semester at NC State. The convocation has expanded over the years to include the families of student honorees.
During National Hispanic Heritage Month (Latinx Heritage Month, here at NC State) September 15 to October 15, we recognize the contributions made and the important presence of Hispanic and Latinx Americans to the United States and celebrate their heritage and culture.
Native American Heritage Month, held every November, is dedicated to recognizing and honoring Indigenous cultures across the country. During this month at NC State, Multicultural Student Affairs hosts a myriad of events for Native students to celebrate their unique and vibrant traditions and tribes and for the larger campus community to come together to learn more about Native tribes and communities.
Held each year during the fall semester, Salsabor is an NC State tradition where students, faculty, and the neighboring community come together to enjoy the rich sounds of música latina. Featuring dance performances, free dance lessons, and live music performed by local salsa bands, Salsabor is a lively and engaging opportunity to learn more about the various styles of Latin music and dance. Salsabor is scheduled every year as one of the many events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at NC State.
The Symposium for Multicultural Scholars is a summer education and transitional experience for students from traditionally underserved populations. Its purpose is to foster a sense of community for incoming undergraduate first-year and transfer students and provide them with information about campus support, personnel and resources as a basis for helping ensure their academic, social and emotional success at NC State.
During this event, we celebrate the accomplishments of NC State’s multicultural graduates by giving them a small token to commemorate their transition from student to Alumni in the presence of their friends, family, and members of the Wolf Pack community. We hope that by highlighting students’ accomplishments during their time at NC State, we can create a more personal and culturally relevant graduation experience.
Powwows are social gatherings of hundreds of Native Americans who follow dances started centuries ago by their ancestors and that continually evolve to include contemporary aspects. These events of feasting, drum music and dance are attended by Natives and non-Natives, all of whom join in the dancing and take advantage of the opportunity to see old friends and teach the traditional ways to a younger generation.