The annual Goshen College International Student Club Coffeehouse is set to happen this Saturday. The event will take place in the Church-Chapel Fellowship Hall, and will include both a community potluck and performances. This is the second year where the International Student Club has combined both the potluck meal with the performances, and will look to have an evening full of culture, celebration and community.
Joyce Daliya, a junior biology major and ISC leader, said that the event “is sort of a talent show, where students represent their countries and perform either as dances, songs or even presentations and acts about their countries. Anyone is welcome to come and enjoy.”Auditions were virtual this year due to spring break. Dayliya said students sent in recordings, which were reviewed and approved by ISC leaders.
Coffeehouse began decades ago with Skip Barnett, former international student advisor, and now is led by Dan Koop Liechty, current international student advisor and director of alumni engagement.
“[Coffeehouse] started as a small program with some food in Newcomer 19, and has grown into a full-fledged dinner and show,” Koop Liechty said. “It’s an amazing tradition.”
Admission to the event requires a ticket and some form of food. This can be snacks, entrees or desserts for others in attendance to share. Many people bring their favorite food to help to represent their culture and home, providing everyone with the opportunity to learn about one another.
Koop Liechty spoke of the celebration with excitement, and referred to last year’s event as “a feast, with foods from around the corner and the world.” He described Coffeehouse as an event that, overall, fosters the “chance to showcase our international students, the international nature of our community and come together for fun and good food.”
The Coffeehouse offers three scholarships funded by former International Goshen College Alumni following the presentations. Performers present in a judgement-free environment, as Daliya said “The show isn’t intended to be judged and so there are no winners.”
Daliya looks forward to Coffeehouse and watching the performances. “I’m just really excited to see all the acts in person since each of them is so unique, and it’s also particularly interesting and nice to see people you know perform,” she said.
She has been part of the ISC since her sophomore year and said, “It’s been nothing but an amazing journey, and I really hope I can continue being a part of it.” She said, “[My] main goal was to help [International students] feel comfortable, and know that if they needed anything, we would always be available for them.”
Saif Mohammad Ansari, a senior accounting major, has been a leader of the ISC for three and a half years, and says he wanted to be part of the leadership team because it’s something that he’s always had an interest in. Ansari designed this year’s promotional posters for Coffeehouse and explained that it took a lot of planning and collaboration from the entire team to get the final result.
Ansari also mentioned that leaning into the graphic design aspect of things was work than he anticipated, but he learnt through experience and had fun. Ansari expressed his excitement for Coffeehouse, and described the event as having a diverse and energetic atmosphere and that “we put a lot of hard work to put it out there.”
The International Student Club’s 2025 Coffeehouse will take place in the Church-Chapel Fellowship Hall on March 15 at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at goshen.universitytickets.com.
