These past few weeks of the year have shown that now is the time to embrace unity and appreciate the abundance of culture that surrounds us everyday. The Benito Bowl was evidence for how much representation matters and how ignorance can be overcome by acknowledgement and community.
With these intentions in mind, the Old Gold Gala will be making its debut to Wofford on Feb. 26. Students, faculty members and members of the Spartanburg Community will have the opportunity to celebrate and witness the various cultures that reside among the campus walls.
Sunni Owens ‘26 and Laila Villeda ‘26, co-chairs of the Association of Multicultural Students, share their motives behind organizing this gala.
“Laila and I want to showcase the different cultures and talents of the students on campus. We realized there wasn’t a space for students to broadcast that outside of choral concerts,” Owens said.
The works of this multicultural gala began in the summer of 2025 when the co-chairs of AMS mentioned the idea in one of their meetings. Reflecting on how the idea of a gala first came together, Owens shares that this program is envisioned to convey AMS’s efforts of promoting inclusivity and diversity on campus.
“We thought of what our mark on campus was going to be. What were we leaving behind with our legacy? We felt that we could do it with the resources we have access to and the connections we have in the community and on campus,” Owens said.
AMS has had tremendous support from behind the scenes. Dr. Bria Harper, Dr. Dwain Pruitt ‘95, Seth Flanagan and the Campus and Student Development Office have contributed to the program through funding and coordinating the event with contacts in the community. Jeansine Escobar has been well in contact with the talent and artworks that will be displayed at the gala.
The reception and art auction will start at 5 p.m. in the Yorke Family Portico with hors d’oeuvres. Interested buyers will be able to buy art pieces made by Lyrical Gist ‘26, who also has “The Garden We Grow” exhibition on display at the Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts until Feb. 22. Artworks by Caris Mitchell ‘27, the creator behind Studio Smoothie, will also be available to purchase.
After the auction, the gala will begin at 6 p.m. in the Leonard Auditorium. The program will start with highlighting and expressing gratitude to the founders of all the diversity council organizations. Audience members will have the chance to see singing performances, multicultural dances, a fashion show and short films made by Wofford students.
When questioned why students should come to the gala, Owens shares that this gala is an opportunity for the Wofford community to witness the many cultures that make up our student body.
“They should come support their friends. When else would they have the opportunity to experience something like this? I think it’s really important for us and our youth to educate ourselves on other cultures at school,” Owens said. “I know that after we are out of the undergrad experience, we won’t be given as many opportunities to do that. So we should maximize that while we can. The liberal arts experiences, something you have really once in undergrad.”
Just as Owens shared, the Old Gold Gala is a great opportunity for Wofford students to celebrate the cultures their peers come from. For many students of color performing in the gala, this may be one of the first times they are able to showcase their heritage to this extent at Wofford. AMS hopes to see a full house on Feb. 26, with an eager audience ready to witness the cultural tapestry that resides within Wofford.
