Rochelle Lu ’28 and Emily Mito ’28,
Staff Writers
On Oct. 12, under a sunny autumn sky, around thirty international students from the Claremont Colleges gathered at Cal Poly Pomona’s Pumpkin Festival. Organized by the 7C International Student Community Programming Council (7CISPC), the trip provided international students staying on campus for Fall Break with a festive outing. For many, this event offered a taste of American fall traditions, a chance to connect with peers, and an uplifting escape from campus.
The festival, hosted by Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Agriculture, has been a cherished community tradition for over thirty years. This year, it ran for five weekends, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 27, featuring 40,000 pumpkins, sunflower fields, corn mazes, and autumn-themed activities. Festivalgoers explored AGRIscapes, the college’s 20-acre educational farm, browsed booths from local vendors, enjoyed country music, and tried seasonal treats. Cal Poly student organizations also offered workshops, including face painting by the Pre-Vet Club, adding a creative touch to the day’s events.
Becky Kyles, the Scripps international student advisor and member of the 7CISPC, was instrumental in coordinating the trip. She explained that the idea was sparked by the council’s desire to expand their offerings and not simply repeat past events.
“The 7CISPC met this July to plan the fall semester calendar of events,” Kyles said. “One of the council members, Shino Simons, Dean of Students at Keck Graduate Institute, suggested a trip to a pumpkin patch and specifically mentioned Cal Poly Pomona’s Pumpkin Festival.”
Kyles supported the idea, having participated in the festival both as a student volunteer and as a staff member. “Cal Poly Pomona has one of the larger pumpkin patches in the area and is relatively close to Claremont, so we all agreed to give this trip a go,” she said. “I volunteered to chair this event as I was familiar with the campus and the event itself.”
As Kyles explained, the 7CISPC is committed to bringing the international student community together and providing them with a range of experiences across all five campuses. Since its formation in 2021, following the dissolution of the prior international events committee I-Place, the council has aimed to present new opportunities for international students to connect.
“We work to ensure that our off-campus events offer equal representation and access per campus,” Kyles said. “Each campus has ample time to register for events, and any extra seats are dispersed only after that initial period. All of us on the committee are passionate about providing enriching experiences that help students feel connected within the Claremont community and beyond.”
In addition to planning inclusive and accessible outings, the council considered logistical challenges that international students often face, including limited transportation options.
“Much of the international student population lives on campus, and most do not have vehicles, so integrating off-campus events is important,” Kyles said. “The Claremont Colleges is a beautiful place with a vibrant campus community, but it’s also positive for students to connect with the surrounding neighborhoods, sightsee, and experience life outside of campus. Southern California offers a diverse range of activities and cultures, which we want our students to experience.”
For many international students, the Pumpkin Festival was their first introduction to a classic American fall celebration. “The Pumpkin Festival was a great way to start my fall break and a nice getaway from campus,” Jiwon Hyung ’27, who attended with a friend, said. “Getting a coconut ube and pumpkin cheesecake ice cream was the highlight of my day.”
The trip was particularly meaningful for students who lack personal transportation and seldom venture beyond the Claremont area. “I wanted to do some fall activities and get out of campus, which was a really good experience,” Charlotte Pisor ’28 said. She also emphasized the impact of the international student community on her sense of belonging at the 7Cs: “At the pumpkin carving, I got to meet people from Pomona as well.”
As Cal Poly Pomona’s Pumpkin Festival continues to grow in popularity, trips like these foster a sense of belonging among international students by giving them a chance to bond, share traditions, and find “a home away from home.” For those who stayed behind while others returned home for the break, this festive outing offered a comforting reminder that community can be found wherever they are.
Photo Courtesy: Emily Mito ’28
