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Jeff
City plans International Student Day Managing Editor
More
than a dozen international students will represent Missouri Southern at
the fourth annual Missouri International Student Day in Jefferson City. It s
an opportunity for international students around the state to get
acquainted, said Dr. Chad Stebbins, director for the Institute of
International Studies. Last
year more than 74 countries were represented by nearly 400 international
students in the state capital. Students
will leave Southern at 5:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 1 in order to arrive by 9
a.m. While there, students will attend a variety of informative
programs, tour the state capital, have a luncheon and tour the
governor s mansion. We
take them for the experience, Stebbins said. Stebbins
said the event went well last year. If there was one drawback, Stebbins
said, it was because Gov. Bob Holden didn t show due to scheduling
conflicts. Hopefully,
he s going to show up, he said. I know students want to meet
him. Stephanie
Goad, project coordinator for the Missouri Multi-Cultural Network who
also assists with the Institute, will be attending the event along with
the 16 international students. She
said she s excited about the day. It s
a celebration of the international student, Goad said. They will
be able to see what the state capital is like. One
highlighting event will be the announcement of the International Student
of the Year award. Each school in Missouri with an international program
nominated one student in hopes of winning. Stebbins
said events like these help the Institute achieve more exposure
throughout the state. We
have a very small international student population in comparison to
other schools in the state, he said. It s a large networking
opportunity. After
the seminars and the luncheon, the capitol building and the governor s
mansion will open up for students. It s
a nice gesture by the governor, Stebbins said. Hiromi
Tateishi, sophomore business major, said she s excited about the day. I
want to know all about Missouri, Tateishi said. This will be a
good opportunity. Goad
hopes the day will give her the opportunity to get to know some of the
students a little better. I m hoping to interact with the international students here, Goad said. It opens your eyes to see what s beyond our borders. |