The ceremony was held at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston, Texas, in front of 3,000 attendees. Some 100 students from 13 countries took to the stage during the event and nearly 2,500 students from 150 countries will take part across the globe in various ceremonies for this year’s festival.
Congressman Al Green and Pete Olson also attended the event as the Raindrop Foundation, which held the event, was awarded two certificates of merit on behalf of the state of Texas.
Delivering a speech at the event, Green said that wars could be ended together with the initiators of peace and the world could be turned into a safer place for future generations. Referring to “What a wonderful world,” one of the songs sang during the event, Green said the world is excellent because of the brilliant young people in it, adding that people can live in co-existence and bring peace to the world.
After his speech, Green called on Siwar Andolsi, a student from Tunisia, and gave a certificate of merit to him.
Another speaker, Olson, thanked the Turkish-American society for its contribution to multiculturalism with such an activity. He said it was a source of pride to host such an event and different cultures at the festival, which has given them a chance to express the pride they have felt.