On June 27th, INCAE Business School celebrated with great enthusiasm the Cultural Night 2024, an event that not only highlights the diversity and creativity of its students, but is also part of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the institution. This activity, held on the campus of INCAE, brought together students, professors, diplomatic community, graduates and friends of the institution in a night of dancing, singing, theater and gastronomy.
Cultural presentations
This year's event was notable for the inclusion of students from various programs, including the Residential Masters, the Executive MBA and, for the first time, the Online MBA, enriching the evening and fostering a sense of unity and networking among all attendees.
Paola Rodríguez Chacón and José Carlos Pérez Barrantes, MBA 2024, Masters of Ceremonies for the evening.
The evening was presented by Paola Rodríguez Chacón and José Carlos Pérez Barrantes, both MBA 2024 students, with special recognition to Luis Daniel Marín Araya, president of the Art & Culture Club, for his leadership in organizing the event.
Enrique Bolaños, Rector of INCAE
In his welcoming remarks, Rector Enrique Bolaños thanked members of the diplomatic corps, deans, faculty, students, graduates and special guests for their presence. "It is an honor for me to welcome you to Cultural Night 2024, a celebration that, as part of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of our institution, embodies the diversity, creativity and community spirit that defines INCAE," he commented.
Professor Elena Fumagalli, patroness of the Art and Culture Club
The roots of Cultural Night date back to the early years of INCAE at the old Francisco de Sola campus. Rector Bolaños highlighted its historical importance, noting, "We have references that these celebrations began in 1976 with MAE VIII and IX, when the Pan-American was born, and Cultural Night was an integral part of it. Since then, it has been an event loved and awaited by all, where our diverse cultures meet and celebrate each other."
Steve Aronson, honored by the students of INCAE for his contribution to culture.
This year, for the first time in a Cultural Night, the students chose a person with a wide influence in the country's culture to honor, led by the Art and Culture Club. On this occasion, the recognition went to Steve Aronson, friend of the institution and recognized patron of the performing arts in Costa Rica, for his valuable contribution to the national culture and his promotion of theater. "Steve, thank you for your invaluable contribution to culture and for being a source of inspiration for all of us," said the Rector before inviting Aronson to the podium.
Professors Octavio Martínez, Andrea Prado and Margaret Grigsby
Aronson, in his acceptance speech, touched on the future of creativity in the age of artificial intelligence. "We should postulate that the creativity industry will continue to exist, but with major changes. The fact of having almost immediate access to all the creativity of the past and having the possibility of organizing and questioning it, gives a lot of strength to the creative person," he pointed out, emphasizing the enduring importance of art and culture in defining humanity. He closed his participation by stating "more than anything else, art and culture define who we are as human beings... So enjoy!"
Luis Daniel Marín Araya, MBA 2024, president of the Art & Culture Club.
Representatives of the Club dedicated a few words and presented Steve Aronson with the award. "Leading the organization of the Cultural Night as part of the 60th anniversary of INCAE has been an extremely rewarding and enriching experience. This event not only celebrates the diversity and cultural richness of our community at INCAE, but also strengthens the bonds between us all. The selection of Steve Aronson as the Noche Cultural honoree is a recognition of his tireless work and commitment to the cultural and social development of our region. His example inspires and motivates all of us who are part of this community, and it is an honor to pay tribute to him on this very special occasion, celebrating six decades of excellence and legacy from INCAE." Luis Daniel Marín Araya, MBA 2024, president of the Art & Culture Club.
Cultural presentations.
After the cultural presentations, where students were grouped by country to showcase their talents, the guests proceeded to the "Plaza Banderas." Where, despite the rain, a fair atmosphere prevailed as attendees enjoyed the "Around the World Tour," where students participated with stands representing their diverse cultures, offering food and drinks typical of their countries of origin. The cultural representation of Costa Rica emerged as the winner of the night, with Nicaragua and Ecuador taking second and third place, respectively.
General view of the participating stands
Cultural Night 2024 was a collaborative effort involving students from the MBA, EMBA, MAIT and MBA Online residential programs from 13 countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the United States and Venezuela. After the cultural and gastronomic presentations, the celebration continued with a concert and dance, closing the joyful evening in a memorable way.
General view of the participating stands, the rain was not an obstacle for a fun night!
"This evening reflects the spirit of community and cultural richness that defines INCAE. We are very proud of our students and their commitment to making this celebration a memorable one," concluded Rector Enrique Bolaños.
Our Rector Enrique Bolaños accompanied by Bolivar Vicente Torres Cevallos, Ambassador of Ecuador in Costa Rica, in a tour of the different stands.
At the end of the cultural and gastronomic activities, awards were given to the best performances of the night.
Professor Elena Fumagalli announced the winners of Cultural Night 2024:
Costa Rica, 1st place
Nicaragua, 2nd place
Ecuador, 3rd place
