Name: Jonathan Lo
Year: Senior
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Major: Economics
1. What is Celebrasia?
Celebrasia is Northwestern’s largest multicultural event—a Lunar New Year show, showcasing Asian American celebrity performances and student acts. This year’s co-headliners include Kinjaz Dance Crew, currently America’s hottest dance group, and the extremely talented Kina Grannis who was winner of the 2008 Doritos Crash the Super Bowl and recipient of Best Web-Born Artist at the 2011 MTV O Awards. We are also excited to welcome one of the most successful Asian American comedians of our generation, Eliot Chang, as well as the magician extraordinaire, Joseph Tran.
2. How long have you contributed to Celebrasia and what is your involvement this year?
Celebrasia is jointly put on by the Chinese Students Association (CSA) and the Taiwanese American Student Club (TASC). So my involvement with Celebrasia dates back to my Freshman year when I first joined CSA and was exposed to the event. It’s been an amazing experience putting on the event each year and slowly working my way up the totem pole each year – from ushering my Freshman year to emceeing and running the show this year, my senior year.
4. Why did you want to be involved? Why is it important to you?
For all of us in CSA and TASC, the thousands of hours we cumulatively put into the show each year is 100% worth it, when we overhear Northwestern students leaving each years’ Celebrasia exclaiming: “Wow! That was the best show I’ve seen at Northwestern”. For all of us, that’s a huge motivator. We strive to not only expose the Northwestern Community to Asian American culture, but we also want to show people that we can all have fun doing it!
5. How much preparation goes into making Celebrasia happen?
Beginning in the fall, our two groups get the ball rolling on Celebrasia. We all split up into various committees that are each responsible for an aspect of the show: decorations, programming, and sight and sound. From that point onwards, committees work tirelessly to ensure that Celebrasia runs seamlessly the night of. When you all come this year, you’ll be able to experience first-hand what I mean!
6. What has been your favorite memory, so far, planning the event?
Today was super exciting! We got our Celebrasia Snapchat Geofilter approved, so get ready to snap away the night of the event!
7. Why should Northwestern students attend the celebration?
I firmly believe that Celebrasia is up there as one Northwestern tradition each student should experience at least once!
8. Final thoughts for HC readers?
I am extremely flattered to be HC’s Cutie of the Week, and I hope all of you come out to see the show! I promise it will be mind-blowing! Celebrasia 2016 – Year of the Monkey, is gearing up to be the best one yet. Tickets are going fast!