Kaden Rush, president of Cultural Exchange Project (CEP) and senior

Why did you become an officer for CEP?

I started CEP because there were lots of things I wanted to do at the school, like in arts and performing arts, so I started CEP to work on large-scale projects with other people and organize group efforts. 

What does this club try to accomplish?

The goal of the club is to spread culture through the arts. Right now, we are working on a big film project, and they just finished filming last week, actually. We’re going to film another one soon, though. And then we’re also rehearsing again next week for the large ensemble project. We just create forms of media. We’re trying to introduce other people to other media from other cultures to spread knowledge.

What do meetings normally look like?

It really depends on the meeting, because our normal meetings when we meet on Thursdays, we’ll do certain things like we’ll celebrate holidays or just eat snacks and watch movies. But we have meetings on other days too for our other projects, like filming meets on Sundays [to] film, and then we have orchestra every other Monday. 

Aidan Shen, CEP member and junior

Why did you join CEP?

I think it was very interesting, their cause and the multiple forms of art that they were supporting.

What has been your favorite memory from CEP so far?

I really enjoy their normal club meetings, and I thought their after-school music rehearsals were really fun too.

What do you think CHS students can take away from this club?

I think they can take away inspiration because there’s many different types of cultural media and art, and I think that’s something students can take inspiration from.

Is there any event you are most excited for?

I’m excited for us to start finalizing our different projects and for it to be shared to more different people. 

Matthew Cinkoske, CEP club sponsor and world language teacher

Why did you sponsor CEP?

Kaden reached out to me, because I had been part of the Japan Exchange, and he hosted a student back in the spring. So he knew me and he had mentioned it to me then, but unfortunately, they didn’t know about the date that it was the cutoff to sign up, and so they started it this semester. I agreed to it because I teach Spanish. I lived in Japan. I’m kind of passionate about people learning about other cultures and experiencing that in different ways.

How have you been able to support the officers and members as a sponsor?

So for most student interest clubs, the majority of it is that I make sure that they have a space to practice, but to do stuff in [and] help them kind of with signing up for rehearsal space for the orchestral pieces that they’re practicing, (and) help them with financial stuff or finances with the treasurer, or just making a canvas page. I kind of just [do] the administrative side of things and then the actual officers are the ones who run the meetings they want.

Would you recommend students to join CEP? If so, why?

Of course. I recommend it if you are interested in learning about other cultures, but also if you’re interested in showing others what your own culture is like–how that might be different from what people expect. If you’re interested in music, if you’re interested in film, if you’re the kind of artistic expression of people’s individual experiences within a culture (I would recommend it).