Richland College celebrated the rich diversity of its students and employees during its 2013 Intercultural Festival on April 17.

The annual event began with a special performance, Connect. Share. Sustain., choreographed and directed by Gina Sawyer, dance professor, and performed by Richland College Dance and Theatre students. Ms. Sawyer described the dance as "celebrating the uniqueness of the individual within the harmony of the group."

Richland also planted its 23rd peace pole in its campuswide trail of peace as part of the festival. The peace pole bears the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in English on one side and in Guarani, Hawaiian and Uzbek on the other three sides. Learn more about Richland's peace poles by visiting www.richlandcollege.edu/peacepoles.

The Intercultural Festival also included the Parade of Cultures, with students carrying signs representing more than 140 countries of origin. After the parade, Richland community members wearing traditional dress performed dances and songs from their home countries.