“Across Oceans, Across Cultures”: Crafton Hills College Celebrates AANHPI Heritage Month - Crafton Hills College
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Publish Date: May 11, 2026

AANHPI Closing Ceremony

In partnership with San Bernardino Valley College, Crafton Hills College hosted a month-long lineup of activities celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. This year’s theme, “Across Oceans, Across Cultures,” celebrated the rich diversity, shared histories, and cultural contributions of AANHPI communities. 

“The colleges together have hosted 11 APIHM events during a three-week period,” said Souts Xayaphanthong. “This year, I served as the SBCCD’s Asian and Pacific Islander Association interim treasurer and APIA events coordinator at Crafton. One of the many things I look forward to during APIHM is sharing history and experiences connected to AAPI communities, all while celebrating our identities and cultures.”

The celebration at Crafton began on April 27 with “Exploring Indonesia: Traditions & Cuisine,” held in the Multicultural Center. Attendees enjoyed martabak, a sweet street food popular in Indonesia, while listening to a student-led presentation from Eli Wangania about Indonesian culture and traditions. 

The festivities continued on May 4 with a graduation celebration. The event recognized the achievements of AANHPI students from the Class of 2026. Graduation stoles were distributed, and students gathered to commemorate their accomplishments. 

“This year’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month held special meaning for me,” said Nancy Wang Yuen. “It marked both my first year as an Ethnic Studies professor at CHC and our very first AANHPI graduation ceremony on campus.” 

Yuen said she was honored to speak at the graduation ceremony and to lead a districtwide virtual discussion of What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo. 

“As someone committed to lifting up historically underrepresented communities, I found this year’s AANHPI Heritage Month to be one of the true highlights of my first year at Crafton.” 

The celebration concluded on May 6 with the AANHPI Closing Ceremony at the Barbara L. Smith Event Center. The event featured a live performance by taiko drumming group TaikoMix, whose dynamic rhythms brought energy and cultural expression to the celebration. 

San Bernardino Valley College hosted a range of complementary events throughout the month, including an AANHPI Heritage Month Opening Celebration, a K-pop singalong, an AANHPI Game Night, and a Centennial Night Market. Together, the colleges offered a unified month of events aimed at celebrating AANHPI heritage across the San Bernardino Community College District.