Students at Methodist University invited the campus and local community to embark on a journey across the globe—no passport required.
Students at Methodist University invited the campus and local community to embark on a journey across the globe—no passport required. The annual Pangea event, organized by MU’s International Club, transformed Huff Concert Hall into a vibrant tapestry of cultures, showcasing the rich diversity of the University’s international community. It was a trip around the world in one unforgettable night.
From the moment the doors opened, the venue buzzed with excitement. Students and faculty stepped into a celebration of global traditions, introduced by the iconic flag bearings, and proceeded by live music performances spanning cultures. Each performance, exhibit, and vibrant fashion served a reflection of the deep cultural pride carried by Methodist University’s international students.
MU has an extensive international population with students from more than 50 countries and a thriving Global Education Department. MU has also been named “The Most Diverse University in North Carolina*” two of the past three years.
For those involved, Pangea is more than a night of entertainment − it’s an opportunity to reconnect with home while sharing their heritage with others. Senior Pavlos Trivolas, who has participated in Pangea every year since arriving at MU, sees the event as a bridge between worlds.
“This is an opportunity for us international students to showcase our cultures and feel a little bit more like home,” Trivolas said. “It’s exciting to spend time with people outside of class − people we may not always hang out with − but during Pangea, we all come together as one.”
This year, Trivolas took on a new challenge, performing a traditional Greek dance he had never done before. Through teaching others, he found himself learning more about his own culture in the process.
“I’m connecting with my culture through connecting with others, too,” he said.
Alianna Gonzalez, a student representing the Dominican Republic, echoed the same sentiment, explaining that Pangea is a rare chance to embrace and express the traditions that make her feel most at home.
“It’s a moment that you can feel a little bit closer to your culture,” Gonzalez said.
Beyond the performances, Pangea fosters an environment of cultural exchange and unity. The event provides international students a space where their identities and experiences are not only acknowledged but celebrated. It’s a night when they don’t have to assimilate or explain − they can simply be.
“A lot of us international students have to change parts of ourselves to adjust to a new culture,” Trivolas reflected. “But through our performances, I want people to see us as we truly are − who we might be back home. There’s so much behind the dance, behind the singing. I hope people see that.”
Pangea wasn’t just a celebration − it was a moment to be seen, heard, and understood.
View some amazing images from Pangea 2025 on MU’s Flickr page.
*-Niche Rankings and Reviews