Asian Culture Exchange Club wrapped up its first year at Citrus College with its final meeting of the semester, marking the end of founder Natalie Kwok’s presidency and the beginning of a new chapter under incoming student leaders.
Despite its name, ACE tries to extend past just Asian culture. Founded by current President Natalie Kwok, the club was created this year to provide a welcoming space for students while encouraging cultural exchange between people of all backgrounds.
“I wanted to create a supportive environment for Asian students,” Kwok said.
Kwok explained that while Citrus College has a large Hispanic population, she recognized the need for a space dedicated to Asian students while also adding more room to learn about other cultures. Rather than focusing solely on one group, ACE aims to bring students together through shared experiences and cultural understanding.
Throughout the year, the club hosted games, quizzes and activities designed to teach members about cultures from around the world.
As Kwok prepares to leave Citrus College, leadership of the club will be passed to incoming President Nagomu Kojima and incoming Vice President Shunta Hirashima. Both students are from Japan, attended the same international school and completed their first year in the club this semester.
The two said they initially became interested in leadership because of the experience it would provide and the opportunity to strengthen their resumes. However, they also said the club’s welcoming atmosphere played a major role in their decision to become more involved.
One of Hirashima’s motivations for seeking a leadership position was the opportunity to develop his communication skills.
“It will be a good experience because English is not my first language,” Hirashima said.
Looking toward next year, Kojima and Hirashima said they hope to build on the foundation established by Kwok. Their goals include hosting more events, fundraising more and creating new opportunities for members to engage with one another.
With a new leadership team preparing to take over next semester, ACE is hopeful to grow as a club and become a hub for cultural exchange and student connection at Citrus College.
