Albanian Student Organization to Host 2nd Annual Independence Day Celebration

The Albanian Student Organization (ASO) at Seton Hall University will host its second annual Albanian Independence Day Celebration from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday, November 14, 2025, in Bethany Hall. The event will bring together Seton Hall students, alumni, faculty, families and members of the broader Albanian American community for an evening of culture, music, and celebration.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, which welcomed more than 200 guests, this year’s celebration promises to be even more impactful. ASO’s mission is to create a space where Albanian students, their peers and the community can come together to celebrate identity, build connections and showcase Albania’s cultural heritage.

The evening will feature live performances with a DJ and other entertainment, traditional Albanian music and instruments, cultural dance and valle, authentic food, drinks and desserts, a photo booth, raffle prizes with fundraising opportunities and more.

This year’s event is also a charity initiative. Funds raised will support a 24-hour center for children and adults with special needs in the city of Vlorë, Albania, where many ASO members have family roots. In addition, the Albanian Student Organization is committed to exploring other initiatives that extend beyond Albania’s borders. With the guidance and partnership of Emina Cunmulaj Nazarian and Emina’s Hand Foundation, ASO hopes to contribute to projects that support families and students in need across other Balkan regions, including Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and the Presheva Valley.

ASO President and founder Nancy Kajo said the celebration is deeply personal for her:

This organization means the world to me, and I am grateful to be given the opportunity to bring something so unique to campus. This event will not only be so much fun with all that we are offering, but it is also a charity event that directly supports a cause close to my heart. To be collaborating with such an incredible Albanian figure, Emina Cunmulaj Nazarian, and her foundation, Emina’s Hand Foundation, is beyond meaningful. Together, we are directing the funds raised to a center in my family’s hometown that cares for and houses those with special needs. Having Emina travel all the way from Miami to join us is an honor I will never forget, and I cannot thank her enough for supporting our mission.

ASO Vice President Sylvia Bojkovic echoed this sentiment:

Stepping into this role as vice president of the Albanian Club, I’m thrilled to be part of our second annual Albanian Independence Day celebration. To me, this event is about more than honoring our history, it’s about bringing Albanian youth together, keeping our culture and traditions alive, and channeling our pride into giving back. Through both celebration and charity, we’re building a community that remembers its roots while making a positive impact. Our culture is built on pride, resilience and generosity, and I can’t wait to share that with Seton Hall.

First-year representative Denisa Zuta offered her perspective as a new member of the team:

Before even applying to Seton Hall or making my decision to attend this university, I had the privilege to dance with my group in Bethany Hall at ASO’s first annual Independence Day Celebration. This was my group’s first performance and we were all so excited. The thing I remembered most was Nancy’s genuine love for this organization and her excitement to have us perform, posting us everywhere and at every chance she had. I respected and appreciated it so much. Performing at SHU was nothing short of magical. The energy, unity and warmth that radiated in the room is the one thing I look forward to this year. I had a talk personally with Nancy and she was the main advocate to tell me to apply and stick with Seton Hall. A full year later, I have zero regrets! I am so excited to not only be part of the team making this night happen, but to perform and relive the memories all over again.

ASO faculty adviser Ines Murzaku, professor of religion and chair of the Department of Catholic Studies, emphasized the historic and cultural significance of the date:

As faculty adviser to Seton Hall’s Albanian Student Organization, I am honored that our celebration on Nov. 14 aligns with the opening day of the 1908 Congress of Monastir (Bitola), the landmark gathering that set the course for a unified Albanian alphabet. Remembered nationally during Alphabet Day each year on November 22, that congress reminds us that language is the architecture of identity; by ordering the letters, Albanians prepared the ground for self-determination just four years before independence. At Seton Hall, we celebrate that arc from letters to liberty.

Tickets:

• $10 for high school and college students, Seton Hall alumni, faculty and staff
• $25 for all other guests

Proceeds directly support ASO programming and charitable outreach, including efforts to provide resources for schools and centers in Albania. The Albanian Student Organization at Seton Hall encourages all members of the Seton Hall community to attend, celebrate and learn more about Albanian culture while supporting student leadership and global outreach.

Tickets can always be purchased at a later date, however RSVP's must be secured as soon as possible. Tickets in advance can be purchased here or at the door with cash.

Join us for a night full of live performances, DJ, traditional Albanian instruments, delicious food, drinks, desserts, photobooth and so much more!

Click Here for the RSVP link. 

Categories: Campus Life