As peers share their own backgrounds and known heritages, a bond and feeling of understanding begins to grow. This selection of students sits in room 1214 to meet and discuss diversity at CNHS, a shared passion that brings together the Principal’s Diversity Council.

“We look for campaigns where we can celebrate the diversity within the school,” the council’s sponsor Pfaffenberger said.

All are invited to participate, though some students are particularly interested in the issue that the Council addresses.

“(Diversity Council) and just diversity is really important to me because living and growing up in Columbus, Indiana, Cummins brings in a lot of different cultures and backgrounds,” junior Gabe Kirsch said. “I think it’s really important that people are educated about those different cultures and backgrounds so they can appreciate it instead of taking it as a burden.”

Not only does the Council share ideas regarding how to increase acceptance of diversity within the school, but it also spreads this message throughout the student population.

“Last year everybody in (Diversity Council) researched one person, or a few people, from diverse backgrounds and cultures and make posters presenting the achievements of that person, and then we hung them up around the halls of the school,” Kirsch said. “This year I think we’re really going to attempt to spread our message throughout the school more vocally.”

The Principal’s Diversity Council meets every Wednesday after school. Contact Mrs. Pfaffenberger in Room 1214 for more information.