Santaluces High School’s AICE Travel and Tourism students once again brought global culture to campus! They hosted their latest presentation event on December 3 during both lunches in the lecture hall. The event offered students passing through a chance to explore how different regions around the world celebrate major holidays and traditions. Colorful displays and informative posters  filled the space as presenters shared months of research and preparation with their peers.To gain more insight into the work behind these events we interviewed one of the student presenters, Larissa Lalman, a sophomore currently enrolled in the AICE Travel and Tourism course. Lalman’s project focused on the unique ways cultures around the world celebrate holidays, a topic she selected after exploring global traditions online and discovering how differently various communities observe the seasons.

“I chose my presentation topic by looking up how different cultures celebrate for the holidays,” Lalman explained. “There are so many traditions that people don’t know about, and I wanted to teach others something new.”

Larissa shared that joining AICE Travel and Tourism was a purposeful decision. As a 10th grader, she wanted a class that offered more than the typical high school routine something engaging, hands-on, and connected to the world beyond campus. “I chose AICE Travel and Tourism so I can have an opportunity to learn new things from around the world and make my overall high school experience more fun,” she said. She added that the class encourages students to step outside their comfort zones, think globally, and develop real-world communication skills through events just like this one.

Preparing for the December showcase required dedication and teamwork. Larissa explained that her group spent a couple of months developing their ideas, researching credible sources, and designing their presentation materials. “We had to plan and get everything ready ahead of time,” she shared. “There was a lot of work behind the scenes, but it all came together nicely.”

Students and staff who visited the lecture hall during lunch were able to interact with the displays, ask questions, and learn about traditions they may have never encountered before. The atmosphere reflected the class’s mission: to educate, inspire curiosity, and highlight the importance of cultural appreciation in travel and tourism.

If Larissa’s project sparked your curiosity or if you’re interested in participating in events like this yourself, consider adding AICE Travel and Tourism to your course selection sheet when registration comes around!