By DYLAN ABLAN
Staff Writer

The Cultural Communications Club’s Multicultural Festival raised $1,400 for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital last Friday, almost doubling last year’s proceeds, according to adviser Sabina Campbell.

Students, parents and teachers gathered for the annual event. The hallways and lockers were transformed into the sprawling tropical rainforests of Brazil and the temples of India.

Decorated with a “Hopes and Dreams” theme, the walls surrounding the country displays showed characters from popular nursery rhymes. The front hallway featured a “wishing well” for additional donations to St. Jude’s.

Each group of students was tasked with picking a country and doing their best to recreate each country, with the hopes of winning first place and a $100 gift card. Seniors Austin Smith of Hazlet, Francesca Cocchi and Sarah Soltes of Ocean and Ellen Studer of Manasquan triumphed with their Thailand display.

The group, which placed second in 2011 with their Colombia display, faced several challenges and accidents during set up and just made the 5:30 p.m. deadline.

“I felt confident,” Soltes said. “I knew there was a possibility to win, it was just a disaster getting there.”

Japan achieved second place with a replication of a Japanese marketplace and South Korea took third with a booth showcasing various South Korean documents and artifacts.

The festivities continued with performances. Students sang, danced, read poetry and performed karate for members of the audience.

“I thought the performances were awesome,” said Michele Psyarchyk, a parent. “I loved seeing the different talents.”

The night concluded with a buffet dinner comprised of both exotic and traditional cuisines. Patrons surrounded the tables lined with trays of baked ziti, roasted chicken and other delicious treats.

“The food was probably the best,” junior Sean Cavanagh of Middletown said. “Food is always the best part of anything.”

Cultural Communications Club adviser Sabina Campbell said that she was happy with the event.

“I have been doing the festival for 10 years and it gets better every time,” she said. “Everything was good — the countries, the performances and the decorations. Everything. I’m always proud of my kids.”

Photo Slideshow by Bri Dazio