Kazakh Students Turn Trivia Into Cultural Connection at ASU

On April 11, the Kazakh Student Association (KSA) transformed a classroom at Arizona State University into a fast-paced game show, where trivia became a bridge between cultures.

At Hayden Library, room C14, vice president Shynggys Zhambyl and executive board member Zhamilya Batrymbet led the three-hour “Nomad Mind” competition, mixing science, pop culture, and geography with questions about Kazakhstan. Teams debated answers, laughed through mistakes, and picked up new knowledge along the way.

Instead of a formal presentation, the event pulled students into the experience. Players who had never encountered Kazakh culture before learned it mid-game, while others recognized pieces of home in the questions.

Iryna Falendish, junior studying international relations, said she came in unsure of what to expect. With friends from Central Asia but limited knowledge of the region, she anticipated difficulty. Instead, she found something more welcoming and social. “My mood is 100% better after the event,” she said. “I got to meet a lot of new people.”

Another participant, a Mongolian student at ASU, emphasized the sense of belonging the event created. Having attended previous Central Asian gatherings, he returned to Nomad Minds expecting a similar atmosphere and found it fulfilled that expectation. “I felt like I found a family,” he said, describing how the environment reminded him of home and strengthened his connections on campus.

As events like Nomad Mind continue, the Kazakh Student Association is building spaces where students can connect across cultures through shared experiences.

Read more about other student organizations at Arizona State University here.