UCLA United Khmer Students' 28th Annual Culture Night

WHO ARE WE?

Greetings, ជំរាបសួរ (Choum Reap Sur)!

The United Khmer Students is the only Cambodian student organization at UCLA, dedicated to fostering community among Khmer and non-Khmer students. This April 25, 2026, the United Khmer Students Culture Night (UKSCN) returns for its 28th year at UCLA’s esteemed Freud Playhouse! Since July 2025, our passionate team has been working tirelessly to bring this entirely student-run production, a celebration of the Khmer community's resilience, to the stage.

As our largest event of the year, we produce our cultural night as a genuine labor of love driven by the passion and dedication of over 50 hard-working cast and crew. We are excited to showcase our Khmer Classical (Gold and Silver Flower Dance របាំផ្កាមាសផ្កាប្រាក់ & Blessing Dance របាំជូនពរ) and Modern (2 Handz by Tate McRae) dance teams, a special guest performance by Cambodian-rock band Sastra Moon, and a powerful, completely original stage play written by us.

THIS YEAR’S STORY…

"Naga" is an original, comedic-mystery that invites you to the “wedding of the century” in a Cambodian resort. The bride and groom-to-be: Dara, a beloved Cambodian pop star, and Vimean, a wealthy businessman, seem like the perfect couple, but beneath all the glamour is a mountain full of old grudges and buried secrets.

When the groom’s father is found murdered overnight, the wedding spirals into chaos and over the course of one turbulent day, love, lies, and betrayal intertwine as guests race to uncover the truth. Amid the turmoil, Dara reflects on her identity within the Cambodian diaspora and her complicity in systems that oppress the working class.

This narrative is a commentary on the wealth disparity and the divide between the elite and laboring class, while capturing the humor of Cambodian family gatherings. Our production aims to expand Khmer representation beyond narratives of hardships, offering a story of laughter, intrigue, and hope, inviting audiences to see a reflection of themselves in new genres and possibilities.

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT?

For the past 28 years, the United Khmer Students Culture Night has always offered free admission and is open to the public. We reach an audience of over 500 students and faculty, many who attend with little to no knowledge of Khmer culture. Our free tickets allow us to spotlight our stories without creating a financial barrier.

Although we source most funds from UCLA, along with local businesses and organizations, we are in dire need of donations from friends, family, and anyone else able to support the success of UKSCN. Because we are facing the challenge of inflation and drastically increasing venue costs, we have turned towards UCLA’s Crowdfunding. We are reaching out to YOU and asking for your assistance!

The show's total cost comes to over $20,000, and the UKSCN Cast and Crew seek your support to reach our goal of $9,000. All funds would be spent on these components: 

• Venue/Facilities (Freud Playhouse) 
• Advertising and Merch (custom show pamphlets and t-shirts)
• Set, Costumes, Rentals (props/set material, traditional dance costumes, rented live streaming services)
• Ticket Service and Permits (cost of using the ticket service for our show + parking permits)

Any amount donated can go towards bringing our cultural night to life on the stage on April 25, 2026. We understand that monetary donations are not possible for everyone and humbly request for you to share our Crowdfunding campaign link (https://tinyurl.com/crowdfundingUKSCN28) with your friends and family via email, text, and social media.THANK YOU

Thank you, ឣរគុណ (Au Kun)!

The Staff, Cast, and Crew of the United Khmer Students at UCLA would like to thank you for your support. All members involved in the performance and production have volunteered their time and effort without any financial compensation. 

For the sake of our families, friends, and own identities, we are motivated to continue educating others about our Khmer heritage to inspire impact in the UCLA community and beyond.

This is our second Crowdfunding campaign, and we hope that your generosity can continue to spark change. No matter what, we will all continue to honor the unique Khmer American experience with our 28th Annual Culture Night!

Want to find out more information about us? Check us out on…

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uclaukscn/

Our Website: https://unitedkhmerstudents.weebly.com/  

PLEASE SHARE THIS CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN LINK: https://tinyurl.com/crowdfundingUKSCN28

CLICK HERE TO READ THE UCLA FOUNDATION'S DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS FOR DONORS

Should this fund reach the campus minimum required for the establishment of an endowment or quasi-endowment, The UCLA Foundation reserves the right to convert this fund to an endowment or quasi-endowment. Please click here to learn more about how the UCLA Foundation invests and manages its endowments.