At a glance
The Micronesian Islands Club (MIC) at UW hosts MIC Night, an annual celebration of Micronesian culture, resilience, and… Read full summary
- Funding received
- 2025-2026
- Large
- Awarded
- $6,033
- Funding partners
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- Services and Activities Fee (SAF)
The Micronesian Islands Club (MIC) at UW hosts MIC Night, an annual celebration of Micronesian culture, resilience, and community. Less than 1% of UW students identify as Pacific Islander, making events like MIC Night vital for visibility and cultural preservation. The 30th anniversary event will feature cultural performances, audience engagement, and a guest speaker to honor ancestral resilience and contemporary Micronesian excellence. The student-led MIC Night strengthens cultural awareness, encourages reflection on sustaining underrepresented communities, and fosters connections across the UW and broader Pacific Islander community.
The Micronesian Islands Club, or MIC, intends to apply for the Campus Sustainability Fund to support our annual event, Micronesian Islands Club Night, or MIC Night. Less than 1% of students across all three UW campuses identify as Pacific Islander. We are joined by the Alaska Native/American Indian student population in being the least represented of all underrepresented minority groups in this institution. As of the 2025-2026 school year, there is no readily available information pertaining to the demographics of our population and respective representation between Polynesians, Micronesians, and Melanesians in our student body. In 2012, the Obama foundation reported that about 11% of Micronesians living in the United States had some graduate or professional degree.
More often than not, this level of representation gives rise to a phenomena seen time and time again at predominantly white institutions like ours, where the majority of work done to support underrepresented minority students is done by the students themselves. Of course, these circumstances have been seen in broader contexts of science and society and repeatedly in Pacific Islander communities. In fact, conversations surrounding the disproportionate impact of climate change on our home islands began by Pacific Islanders ourselves about four decades ago with the creation of the Alliance of Small Island States or AOSIS, leading to the long overdue climate change and health vulnerability assessment conducted by the World Health Organization 20 years later.
Nevertheless, Micronesians, Polynesians, and Melanesians alike have demonstrated resilience in the face of super typhoons, the various challenges that come with extreme geographic isolation, and the legacy of colonialism and military occupation. Our persistence in the fight to be both heard by the largest climate change contributors on this planet and respected by others on the global stage is centered around the same principle that CSF empowers students to ground their projects in: justice centered sustainability.
MIC believes that in order for this persistence to continue, the people behind it must be celebrated. That is exactly what MIC intends to do at MIC Night, set for May 16th, 2026. This year’s event is particularly special because it marks the 30th year anniversary of the creation of our RSO. It is during this event that we plan on honoring the resilience of our ancestors and revering the work of those around us today, with the ultimate goal of celebrating our collective journey to sustain Micronesian excellence near or far from our home islands. This year, we hope to accomplish this through cultural performances, audience engagement, and a guest speaker.
Planning and execution efforts for the event will be primarily facilitated by our two MIC night chairs, though all MIC activities are supported by the entirety of the officer board. Historically, MIC has maximized the number of islands represented in cultural performances for the evening, typically choreographed by officers from their respective islands. This is done to improve cultural awareness and appreciation among community members in attendance. Our MIC MOM (Micronesian Outreach Movement) chairs will work with high schools in the greater Seattle area to increase youth exposure to Pasifika representation in higher academia through MIC night and our sister club event, Polynesian Day, or Poly Day. Event promotion, contacting of speakers, and potential collaboration with other Micronesian groups in the pacific northwest will be facilitated by our PR chairs. The treasurer and secretary will work in tandem to diligently track event planning progress, the diversion of funds, and notify MIC members of developments related to fundraising events, dance practices, and other pertinent MIC night information as needed.
In addition to guiding and supporting respective officer duties, the president and vice president will work together to ensure that the components of MIC night will ultimately impart a more informed awareness and understanding of the presence and nuance of Micronesian culture on our campus. We hope that we prompt attendees to ask themselves how they can celebrate their own communities, and to reflect on what concrete actions can be taken to sustain these communities in academia, society, and in life.
Last year, MIC was able to bring back MIC Night for the first time in five years with the help of countless community partners, including UW staff from the Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center and the UW Sisterhood Initiative and members from our sister club, the Polynesian Student Alliance, or PSA. The MIC officer board will continue to work closely with ECC and SI staff to ensure that MIC Night can be a success once again by maintaining consistent communication and progress monitoring through weekly meetings with the MIC president, vice president, and at least one MIC chair in attendance. Further, MIC will have additional help from the Student Advisory Office to streamline operations and maximize support from the ASUW Pacific Islander Student Commission.
Finally, it was the CSF that primarily funded MIC Night last year and allowed us to throw a sold out event that brought Pasifikas of all ages together for an evening of Micronesian culture and community. We would be immensely grateful for the opportunity to fully propose MIC night to the CSF board for their consideration.
Aleia Hofschneider Santos
President
- acsantos@uw.edu
- Affiliation and department
- UW MIC
- Stakeholder approval form
Request amount and budget
Venue (HUB Lyceum): $2332
Speaker honorarium: $1000
Cultural products sourced from Micronesia: $1000
Venue materials: $500
Cultural wear and components: $250
How the project will react to funding reductions
If we received a 10% cut to our requested budget, we would most likely reduce the number of cultural products we intend to source from around Micronesia, decreasing exposure and access to these Indigenous creators and their works for our intended audience.
A 20% reduction would likely translate into similar cuts, in addition to looking for alternatives for items listed under the photography category to secure high quality, easily accessible records and keepsakes of the event that our RSO has lacked since the creation of MIC Night.
A 50% cut to our budget would force us to eliminate most if not all of our requested cultural products and requested items under photography, and significantly reduce honoraria, given that we absolutely need enough funding to cover the HUB Lyceum booking cost and temporary food establishment permit.
Plans for financial longevity
N/A
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11.30.25 |
MIC Night theme and program (cultural performances, event activities, etc) finalized.
Dance practice schedule finalized |
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01.15.26 |
Costume materials, official performance lineup, and raffle prizes determined. Dance practices begin |
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03.20.26 |
MIC Night teaser released on social media and other relevant platforms Speaker for MIC night confirmed. |
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04.01.26 |
MIC Night decorations, costumes, and other relevant materials ordered |
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05.01.26 |
MIC Night dress rehearsals begin |
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05.16.26 |
Evening of MIC night |
Plans for long-term project management
N/A
Problem statement
Hafa Marianas? Munggi i kustombri? Sa bula gi entri hita manmatulaika
Those are the words of the chorus to a popular Chamorro song called Hafa Marianas. It translates to, “What, Marianas? Where is the culture? There are so many of us here that have lost it”.
The song was written in response to the rapid loss of Chamorro language and cultural practices in the last few decades as a result of colonization, military presence, and westernization. Although it directly addresses the Marianas Islands, the song expresses sentiments that many indigenous Pacific Islanders grapple with, both near and far from their home islands, including those of us in the UW Micronesian Islands Club.
Members of MIC typically vary in how connected they are to their culture. Some of us have lived in Washington our entire lives. Others come straight from their home islands. Some speak their native language fluently. Others can only speak English. Some know nothing about their cultures and others grew up immersed in it. What unifies us all is a commitment to addressing the loss of our languages, customs, and culture by planning and throwing MIC’s annual event, MIC Night. Our project is nearly entirely student led. From choreography, costume design, and event structure, the officers and general members of UW MIC work together to practice what our elders have taught us with the hope of celebrating and sustaining our customs and shared community values.
As discussed in MIC’s LOI for this year’s grant cycle, Pacific Islanders are underrepresented in higher academia across the nation. We make up less than 1% of students across all three UW campuses, in addition to the lack of disaggregated information on the distribution of Polynesians, Melanesians, and Micronesians, no less the respective ethnic groups within these demographics. As Pacific Islander students facing both the loss of our home islands from climate change and the erasure of our identities from the western world, we must remind ourselves who should lead our collective resistance with a simple question: if not us, then who?
The earliest documented instance of MIC night was in 1996, making the 2026 MIC Night, or 30th anniversary, particularly special for our community this year. It is our hope that by throwing MIC Night, we can continue to sustain and foster the growth, community, and culture of Micronesian students and families at the UW for generations to come.
Problem context
As previously mentioned, Micronesians are historically underrepresented at all levels of higher education. Limited data collection and research have been conducted to identify the proportion of Micronesians that enter and successfully gain a degree, in addition to the specific ethnic backgrounds of these individuals, their areas of study and career pathways, and the institutions they come from. Similar on campus legacy RSOs and cultural RSOs, for example, the Filipino American Student Association (FASA), organize events to promote their club presence and increase cultural practices and awareness in higher academia and at a predominantly white institution like the UW.
MIC Night is one of a handful of cultural events held in spring quarter on campus. Our project is an opportunity for the officers and members of UW MIC to showcase our culture through cultural performances and a shared meal between MIC members, families, friends, and community members in the greater Seattle area. In this way, the event is similar to other cultural RSO events and fits into the existing UW ecosystem through its continuation of cultural expression and student involvement. MIC Night adds and compliments this ecosystem given that our event is led and facilitated by Micronesian students themselves in direct resistance to colonial legacies and the showcasing and exoticization of Pasifikas throughout history. Micronesia’s rich, yet underrepresented culture in higher academia makes the presence of an event that not only celebrates, but educates, a crucial part of diversifying and providing proper representation on UW’s campus.
Measure the impacts
| Impact / goal | Metric(s) of success | UW stakeholders impacted |
|---|---|---|
| Sustain the practice of Micronesian culture and values through the student led implementation of MIC Night | There are approximately 451 students who identify as PI of the 45,097 students across all three UW campuses (UW 24-25 Fast Facts). We intend to engage at least 30 Pasifika students at UW Seattle from both MIC and PSA in the implementation of MIC Night. | Undergraduate |
| Build community between UW MIC students and the greater Micronesian and Pasifika community in Seattle and its surrounding areas | Serve and engage at least 200 guests, whether they are family members, friends, or community members, the evening of MIC Night 2026 | Undergraduate |
Education and outreach goals
Micronesians make up a smaller proportion of the 1% of Pacific Islander students at UW.
Due to minimal representation inside and outside higher academia, many people are unaware of the existence of Micronesians. MIC Night aims to educate the greater public about Micronesia and its vast cultures, while also allowing Micronesian students and their families and friends to come together in community and celebration of our presence. The event features cultural performances originating from across the various indigenous groups of Micronesia, incorporating movements, songs, and costumes that bear significant symbols and aspects of
Performance materials are inspired by what is traditionally practiced and crafted in our islands, and are intended to educate the audience on how Pasifika peoples responsibly use and honor their home islands’ natural resources for cultural practices.
Though this event was created by and for Micronesians, MIC Night is open to all who are interested in joining us in celebration of our culture and heritage. As done in years past, our main way of publicizing the event to the UW student body and broader community is through social media, in addition to tabling on red square in the weeks leading up to MIC Night.
During tabling, we promote MIC, share information about the goal of MIC Night with interested passers-by, and often practice some of the cultural dances that will be shown at the event to stir attention and draw onlookers. Club meetings — which are open to all members of UW — leading up to the event feature presentations focused on each of the islands of Micronesia in an attempt to educate our members in the history behind each set of islands and their distinct cultural practices while also acknowledging our shared Micronesian identity and values.
Our theme for the MIC Night this year revolves around cave art found in the Micronesian islands, emphasizing the importance of the arts and history. This opens the door up to students with interests in the arts, especially relating to cultural art. It also allows us the opportunity to incorporate another University of Washington staple, the Burke Museum. Many of our students are participants in a program called Research Family that is based in the Burke Museum and we would be showcasing how that has impacted some of our members and the cultural items that exist within the museum that the audience most likely is unaware of. We expect a large portion of the audience to be Pacific Islander members from communities outside of the Seattle area, making this event a perfect opportunity to reveal the way the Micronesian culture continues to thrive at the University of Washington. Not only will non-UW members be attending the event, but there will be non-UW dancers from Micronesian backgrounds performing as a part of the show to bring awareness to their island’s cultural ways. Our event will also focus on the persistence of Micronesian culture throughout time, and in that persistence, the beautiful uniqueness that can be witnessed through the different expressions of culture from each island of Micronesia. This is especially highlighted through artwork and daily cultural products that have existed in our community for hundreds of years. Our event will engage in displaying this history, while also uplifting the businesses and art of present-day Micronesians. There is a strong effort in ensuring most of our materials are also ethically sourced from members within the Micronesian or Pacific Islander community. One of our objectives is to obtain traditional handmade items from an artist who resides in the Marshall Islands. This craftsmanship is a dying art and we aim to keep the practice alive by including the items in the event, as well as the artist himself so that he can share his expertise straight from the motherland to people who probably never learned how.
With our theme highlighting cave art from the Micronesian ancestors, we are ensuring that an important part of our history is not forgotten. There were members of our board who were initially unaware of the existence of cave paintings within our own islands and that helped inspire the final theme because we knew that this was something that members of our own community would need to be educated about.
We plan to further engage with the Micronesian community in high schools in the Seattle and greater Western Washington area. Students we meet during our M.O.M. visits (Micronesian Outreach Movement) who are especially engaged and interested in UW MIC’s mission. will be given the opportunity to receive a discounted ticket for MIC Night, allowing them to develop a deeper sense of community with fellow Micronesians in Washington and preview the UW as a potential future pathway.
Student involvement
MIC Night does not offer formal student professional development training programs, access to fellowships, or applied research activities. However, similar to how tradition and cultural practices are shared through word of mouth in Pasifika and other URM communities, MIC officers and general members operate primarily independently, with no Pasifika administrators or faculty, and seldom any graduate Pasifika students or beyond to guide club activities and events. Most, if not all of our work, is planned around what was observed from and taught by upperclassmen. In fact, there are extremely limited records of how MIC Night activities were planned or funded in their entirety from the club’s inception to before 2020, or the five year span that MIC Night was not organized until last year.
That said, MIC Night is an event that is fully driven by students who pave the way to make the event successful, with student involvement being the reason why our project even exists in the first place. Students involved, whether as officers, general members, or volunteers from our sister club, Polynesian Student Alliance (PSA), demonstrate the leadership, collaboration, and community spirit of Pasifikas across cultures. High level planning and execution are coordinated from elected officers, who oversee logistics, programming, outreach, and day-of operations starting from the beginning of the academic year, ensuring that every component, from scheduling performances to managing the guests, runs smoothly and professionally.
Volunteers from PSA assist with setup, hospitality, registration, technical support, costumes, and cleanup. Many contribute directly to the program by performing, presenting, and facilitating activities. Their involvement not only strengthens the event but also provides meaningful leadership and service-learning opportunities within our two Pasifika clubs.