MOST OUTSTANDING CULTURAL PROGRAM NOMINEE
Vietnamese Student Association at louisiana state university
pho night
Describe the cultural program and how it meets the mission and goals of the organization. Details MUST include: Date of event, number of participants, program purpose (i.e. goals and objectives), member involvement, use of resources, and marketing techniques.
Pho Night, a cultural program organized by VSA-LSU, took place on March 9, marking its return after years of absence. The event aimed to bring a taste of authentic Vietnamese culture back to the LSU campus, aligning with the organization's mission and goals. With the participation of nearly 160 people, including LSU students, faculty, and members of UVSAGC, Pho Night not only provided a delightful all-you-can-eat pho experience but also served as an opportunity to introduce participants to Vietnamese traditions and customs. The success of Pho Night can be attributed to the dedication and enthusiasm displayed by the executive members of VSA-LSU. Andrew Cao, the External Vice President, and Paul Nguyen, the Treasurer, went the extra mile by personally traveling to Houston to acquire essential pho materials from one of the sponsors. Meanwhile, other board members devoted their time to food preparation and engaging with sponsors. During the event, the executive board members actively participated in various roles, including socializing and welcoming visitors, restocking condiments and vegetables, and preparing the pho bowls. Their unwavering passion and energy exemplified the determination of VSA-LSU to deliver a beloved cultural event that had been missed. Pho Night served not only the campus but also the broader community. By reintroducing this cultural program, VSA-LSU provided an opportunity for participants to experience Vietnamese culture firsthand. It allowed LSU students, faculty, and community members to connect with one another, fostering a sense of community and promoting a welcoming environment. The executive members' proactive approach, such as personally collecting essential pho materials and actively engaging in various event-related tasks, demonstrates their commitment to success. By leveraging available resources, the organization navigated challenges and ensured the smooth execution of the event.
How did this cultural program serve the campus and/or community?
Pho Night served not only the campus but also the broader community. By reintroducing this cultural program, VSA-LSU provided an opportunity for participants to experience Vietnamese culture firsthand. It allowed LSU students, faculty, and community members to connect with one another, fostering a sense of community and promoting a welcoming environment. The executive members' proactive approach, such as personally collecting essential pho materials and actively engaging in various event-related tasks, demonstrates their commitment to success. By leveraging available resources, the organization navigated challenges and ensured the smooth execution of the event.
Did the organization overcome any challenges that arose while planning and implementing the cultural program/event? How?
Making this event alone was a huge challenge in itself, and having each executive board member fill in the gaps allowed us to overcome every challenge we had faced. I think the biggest challenge was communication during the planning period because it had been three years since the last one, there were no notes or anything on the number of resources we needed or how things were conducted. Everything started from scratch and it was really a struggle to make sure we had enough ingredients for everyone expected to come to enjoy at least one bowl. Which we made happen! Thanks to our sponsors being super generous, most people got two bowls as well. In the end pho night after 3 years of not being done was a MASSIVE success and it would not have been completed as successfully without our sponsors and our executive board’s passion to make this event happen again.
