North Shore High School’s Asian Student Alliance Hosts 2nd Annual Lunar New Year Celebration Article by ASA Club President Kaitlin Ho
On February 4, 2025, North Shore High School’s Asian Student Alliance (ASA) proudly hosted its 2nd Annual District-Wide Lunar New Year Celebration, drawing an estimated 700 attendees—nearly double last year’s turnout. Founded by club president Kaitlin Ho and led alongside co-vice presidents Nora Solomon, Sahana Gibbons, and advisor Cynthia Li, the ASA worked tirelessly to expand the event, creating an even more immersive and vibrant cultural experience.
The Lunar New Year celebration was first introduced last year, marking the largest Asian cultural event in North Shore history. This year, the event built upon that success, offering a dynamic lineup of traditional performances, interactive activities, and authentic cuisine to celebrate Asian heritage while fostering inclusivity and education. ASA advisor Cynthia Li said, "This event represents more than just a celebration—it’s a testament to student leadership, cultural appreciation, and community connection. ASA is a highly student-led club, and none of our events could have happened without the dedicated effort of our leaders, Kaitlin, Nora, and Sahana, who share a passion for promoting Asian cultures. I especially want to recognize our president, Kaitlin. Not only did she work extremely hard preparing for this event, but she also took on the role of MC and performed a solo song. She is a wonderful role model. It was great to see students of Asian heritage and those who love Asian culture in different grade levels showcase their talent on stage, and I hope to see even more students shine their light in our community.”
The evening was filled with engaging cultural activities, including lantern making, printmaking, sugar drawing demonstrations, and a variety of interactive games such as “Guess the Candy” and “Spin the Wheel.” Attendees also enjoyed traditional Asian cuisine while capturing memories at the event’s photo booth and souvenir stands. The hallways were filled with excitement as students and families participated in games like Pitch-Pot, adding to the lively and festive atmosphere.
The night was brought to life by a series of incredible performances from talented students and community members. The Asian Student Alliance would like to express its deepest gratitude to all performers, including Yarabella Yang, Adelina Yang, Emma Sang, Hannah Xiu, Joyce Cai, Nicole Zhang, Quoia Zhang, Xiya Li, Amelia Luo, Anna Guo, Claire Luo, Rachel Victorine, Ava Feldman, Miles Topol, Madeline Redenti, Olivia Jiang, Sofia Stanton, Zaria Rahman, Hebe Chen, Yusuf Bajwa, Perlie Yu, Liya Liu, Alice Lin, Colin Penney, Eva Zhang, Cecilia Reily, Raymond Lin, Sam Hsieh, Graham Lippert, Sahana Gibbons, Kayla Tso, Hailey Rubin, Carter Ng, Ethan Markowitz, Kailyn Costello, Hope Fahmy, Zach Kraidin, Hiro Giannakis, Michael Lukyanov, Jason Candres, Hunter Liang, Chloe Liang, Gloria Kahi, Julia Lee, Vito Russo, Alberto Arroyo, Jonathan Mendoza, and the North Shore Mandarin teachers who delivered a beautiful Grand Finale performance. Their dedication and passion were evident in every performance, making the celebration a truly memorable experience.
Following the event’s success, the Asian Student Alliance extended a heartfelt thank you to all those who made the celebration possible. They expressed their gratitude to the Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Zublionis, and Assistant Superintendents Dr. Smyth and Mr. Pappas for supporting an environment where cultural traditions are valued and embraced. Special recognition was given to Principal Mr. Contreras and World Language Department Director Ms. Aguiar for their leadership, as well as to Mandarin teachers Ms. Li, Ms. Tracy Cai, Ms. Jingwen Cai, Ms. Yang, Ms. Huang, and Mr. Schultz for their dedication. The event would not have been possible without the teachers and staff who contributed their time and effort, including Ms. Lemar, Mr. Catalano, Ms. Maldonado, Ms. Haleiko, Ms. Garone, Ms. Hall, Mrs. Johnson, and the custodial staff, all of whom played a vital role in ensuring the event’s success.
The ASA also expressed appreciation for the unwavering support from volunteer parents and students from ASA, the Mandarin Club, and the World Language Honor Society. Their efforts, alongside the generosity of parents who donated food, Zouji Dumpling House, and @Boba, helped make the night both memorable and meaningful.
With such an incredible turnout and overwhelming community support, the Asian Student Alliance looks forward to continuing this tradition, bringing students, families, and faculty together again next year to celebrate the beauty and richness of Asian cultures
Article by ASA Club President Kaitlin Ho Photos by Shelly Newman