Students Exploring and Educating Diversity club raised a total of $365 from their annual luncheon Tuesday March 28. The luncheon, which featured entrée and side dishes from a wide variety of countries across the globe, cost $5 per student with the proceeds going to Hope Center.  They chose Hope Center as the recipient because they wanted to make an impact on the city by investing in the youth, which is what the Hope Center does, according to Co-President and senior Mary Kate Wilcox.

“Our mission is diversity and educating people about it,” Wilcox said. “For this luncheon, we try to bring food from around the world and people bring traditional foods from their heritage or a culture that they have an interest in.”

For example, Wilcox brought dishes from Ethiopia with other club members bringing food from countries such as Pakistan, Mexico, Greece, Ethiopia, Ireland, Korea, Japan and India. Senior Natalie Arreguin ate at the luncheon for the first time this year.

“I think the SEED luncheon was an amazing way to experience different cultures through food,” Arreguin said. “I love seeing my culture being represented as well as seeing others so happy to represent theirs.”

Club moderator Kristie Pennock, who has sponsored the club for four years, said this luncheon is the club’s oldest and most beloved tradition. It gives the SEED students a chance to share their passion with the student body using everyone’s favorite medium: food. In addition to sponsoring a good cause, Wilcox hopes people become more open to trying new things as a result of the luncheon.

“I also hope it helps people realize there is so much more outside our bubble,” Wilcox said. “The luncheon isn’t going to do that much in itself, but we hope that it might open someone’s mind and persuade them to explore a new culture in more depth.”