In 1875, Bernardo de Souza Frank Harrah enrolled at Swarthmore. Records of the exact nature of his arrival and stay are scarce. One might imagine he was close with the entire student body, a feasible feat at the time, as it numbered just 41. Or perhaps he visited Philadelphia as it prepared for the Centennial Exposition of 1876 (a world’s fair commemorating the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence). Much is left to the imagination, but what is certain is that in 1875, Harrah, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, became the first international student to enroll at the College.

The 2025-2026 academic school year commemorates 150 years of international students at the College, a journey that began with Harrah’s enrollment. As part of the celebration of the milestone, the International Student Center (ISC) and the Intercultural Center (IC) collaborated in organizing the Intercultural Showcase on February 21 — an opportunity for students to highlight the diverse cultures represented on campus through various forms of performance.

“The event had been dormant for a while, so it was wonderful to bring it back as part of the celebrations this year,” says Maggie Hussar, associate director of the IC. “We wanted to create the opportunity for students to showcase part of their cultural heritage and bring people together to celebrate our community.”

In addition to staff involvement, students also played a major role in preparing for the show. While the ISC and IC teams tackled the logistical aspects of the event, their student employees created promotional materials, flyered around campus, and promoted the event on social media. Kathryn Melvin, student & scholar immigration specialist at the ISC, notes that the three IC associates did “an amazing job emceeing the [showcase].”

“I was excited to see different students I see around campus perform intricate dances and music,” says Jean Michel Irankunda ’28, of Rwanda, who helped handle sound engineering in preparation for the showcase, adding his appreciation for the show’s “mix of cultural representation.”

The opportunity to celebrate international students at the College through cultural performance attracted many clubs and individual students. Among them was Rianne Maria Marquez ’29, of Guam, who is a member of Rhythm n’ Motion, a group that focuses on dance inspired by the African diaspora. For the showcase, they performed “African Opener,” a blend of traditional West African dance and Afrobeats.

“It was such a good opportunity,” says Marquez. “I like to perform, and it was a good way to show [African diasporic dance] to the audience.”

Overall, the hourlong showcase comprised a total of eight uniquely separate performances by individual students or organizations representing different cultures from four different continents, taking the audience on an intense journey around the world. Opening with Swatinos’ Latin rock, the show guided the audience through a solo performance, an immersive poetry reading, and various forms of choreographed dance, ending resonantly with the swelling rumble of drums in the closing performance by Swarthmore’s Taiko Ensemble.

The vibrancy of cultures represented on stage left a strong impression on many.

“The performance celebrating our student body’s cultural diversity was a genuine breath of fresh air,” says Daniel Wu ’26, an economics major from Vestavia Hills, Ala. “What stood out most was the authenticity of it all. Seeing classmates and friends step out of their usual academic roles to share pieces of their identity made the campus feel both larger in its global scope and tighter-knit as a community.”

Another student noted his appreciation of the performances and surprise at their diversity.

The hourlong showcase comprised a total of eight uniquely separate performances representing different cultures from four different continents, taking the audience on an intense journey around the world.

The hourlong showcase comprised a total of eight uniquely separate performances representing different cultures from four different continents, taking the audience on an intense journey around the world.

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“I think the diversity of the show made it more enjoyable, because I was surprised over and over again,” adds Jack He ’29, of China. “From dances to music to poems, it was great to see how art forms are uniquely presented between cultures.”

Marquez, who performed with Rhythm n’ Motion, also shared she was very pleased with the showcase.

“After the show, it was heartwarming to see the performers congratulating one another, and everyone leaving the LPAC stage with a fuller mind and fuller heart,” she says. “Hopefully, the bringing back of this event can encourage more of our students in the future to come out with their own special talents and share them with our community.”

The ISC and IC note they have received positive feedback from students and are open to the possibility of running the showcase again next year. What remains certain is the enduring importance of welcoming and celebrating international students on campus.

“International students have been coming to Swarthmore for 150 years and are a crucial part of the community and the history of this institution,” says Hussar. “It's important to recognize their contributions and help elevate their presence on campus to increase their sense of belonging.”

“Often there is pressure to assimilate to the culture of where you are spending your college years,” adds Melvin, “but having opportunities to celebrate who you are enables you to hold on to your background in a more meaningful way.”

The international student community at the College has grown considerably since Harrah’s enrollment in 1875. Since 2005, the College has had the privilege to welcome students from more than 89 countries. The Intercultural Showcase was just one of many ways of welcoming and celebrating international students at the College, reaffirming the importance of recognizing them and the various cultures they represent.