By Haley Costen
Staff Writer

Multicultural Affairs and the Office of Student Life provided an outlet for students, faculty, and staff to mingle and honor each others’ success at the Colors of Success reception on Thursday.
The eighth annual event was advertised in its posters as a program to welcome students of color and international students. However, at least 50 people of a variety of ages, genders, races, and backgrounds were in attendance.
“It’s a social gathering so students can get to know each other in the community and at Simmons,” Like Minds Chair Ahalia Persaud said.
Persaud was also part of a panel of students who were invited to speak of their experiences and success in becoming leaders within the community. Attendees of the program had the chance to learn about the students’ involvement at Simmons and ask questions.
Attendees also sat at tables in groups of about eight and participated in discussions about their names and backgrounds. The activity was immediately followed by a spoken word piece by senior Jordan Peterson, whose tale about her namesake, Michael Jordan, was loudly applauded. Zenaida Peterson also earned applause for her piece about her mixed feelings in leaving her home in Atlanta for New England.
Lisa Smith-McQueenie, associate dean for the Office of Student Life, moderated the event. She spoke of inclusion and community, and offered several bits of advice throughout the program.
“None of us walk this journey alone,” Smith-McQueenie said between screens displaying slideshows of students in the Multicultural Overnight & Student Travel (MOST) program. Slides displayed mentors and mentees laughing, talking, and making tie-dyed T-shirts, and stories written by mentors about their experiences.
“I liked it a lot. We got to meet a lot of new people and stay in the dorms. I felt very accepted,” first-year Ashika Shah said about her experience as a mentee through MOST. It was what motivated her to come to Colors of Success.
A variety of students were recognized and honored for their accomplishments. Students accepted to the Dotson Bridge and Mentoring program, which serves ALANA students in the school of nursing, were asked to stand and were applauded by the audience. Boston Scholars, scholarship winners from Boston high schools, along with this year’s Fish Scholar, a student offered a merit award from Atsuko T. Fish, trustee of Simmons and founder of the Japanese Women’s Leadership Initiative, received the same treatment.
Smith-McQueenie also made it a point for attendees to applaud and recognize every year of students in attendance: first-years, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, along with all faculty members, staff, and the few scattered alumni in the room.
Colors of Success ended with Smith-McQueenie encouraging all attendees to use the Like Minds pens and colorful paper scattered on each table to speak with one new person and exchange information in order to establish a new connection.