Your Wright Way To Go Global: September 2016

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Welcome to the new academic year! UCIE is pleased to have many more new programs and services available to students, faculty, and staff this year. Our new host family program is connecting over 80 international students with over 40 homes in our community. Our new immigration open advising hours offers regular open hours for students to meet with Designated School Officials 4 to 5 days a week. Other recently added programs such as the UCIE Conversation (Convo) Club are being expanded by collaborating with academic programs interested in exposing our domestic students to students from around the world. Finally, our Study Abroad Program is now kicking off a new on-line portal for applying and managing study abroad programs.  This system is easily accessible from the UCIE website and will also allow students to apply to the $500 international travel assistance scholarship. Save-the-date for our Study Abroad Fair this month on October 25th at 11am-3pm in the Student Union Atrium and International Education Week, November 14th-18th.  This year, travel the world with UCIE!


UCIE's International Talent Show 2016 WinnersTalent Show 2016

On September 17th, 15 of our students, both international and American, competed in UCIE's International Talent Show. With an impressive and diverse array of talents, audience members enjoyed dances from India, USA, various parts of Africa, singing from Mongolia, Mexico, Nepal, USA, and instruments from China and Mexico. The competition was fierce. Judges, Tony Ortiz, Ciara Newsome, Chris Hogan, and Lukas Wenrick, chose the following winners:

  • Jesus Valtierra (Mexico)
  • African Student Union Dance Group
  • Jiya Zhang and Yiren He (China)
  • Dillon Stoneburner (USA)

Congratulations to these very talented individuals! Stay tuned for more international performances at the Wright State International Festival on April 15, 2016.


Highlighting September Collaborators: Academic Integrity Week Family Feud Academic Integrity Week Collaboration Family Feud

In just the month of September we were able to offer over 22 different programs, one of which was a fantastic collaboration between the University Center for International Education (UCIE) and the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct (CSSC). The two offices collaborated together to celebrate Academic Integrity Week through a Family Feud Game Show. The aim of the event was to expose more students to the academic integrity policy and process in a fun way. Christopher Hogan, Assistant Director for CSSC, crafted questions related to academic integrity and set the stage for a competative game. With a great turn out of both international and American students,  6 teams competed, the majority made up of international students. Congratulations to the "Nepalese Raiders Freshers" for winning the 2016 Academic Integrity Week Family Feud Game Show hosted by both CSSC and the UCIE.

Other September collaborations included the following:

  • September 1st-Resume Workshop with Saudi Student Association and Career Center
  • September 7th-UCIE's Student Leadership Lunch with Jack Pence from Student Activities
  • September 9th-How to be Great Leaders with Liz Beemer from Student Activities
  • September 13th-Eid Celebration with Iraqi Student Organization and Saudi Student Association
  • September 13th-International Women's Gathering with International Women Organization
  • September 16th-Global Connections Hispanic Heritage Volleyball Event with the Office of Latino Affairs
  • September 17th- Healthy Communities Community Picnic with Katherine Cauley from Center for Healthy Communities
  • September 26, 28th-Senior Center Volunteer Opportunity with Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley
  • September 30th-Global Connections Nigeria Independence Day with the African Student Union

International Student Highlight: Sultan AlhayyaniSultan.jpg

The UCIE would like to celebrate international Wright State Alum Sultan Alhayyani. Sultan came to WSU from Saudi Arabia to complete his Master’s degree, and in 2014 graduated with his Master of Science in Microbiology and Immunology. Since graduating, Sultan has then put forth an impressive array of publications and findings including the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care. Sultan’s work has recently led to him being admitted as a member of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand Ltd (TSANZ). Sultan will be presenting at the 2016 TSANZ meeting in Perth, Australia.


Students Abroad: Matt Weldon

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Meet Matt Weldon. Matt is a Communication Studies major and is spending his Fall semester in Xi'an on one of our exchange programs! His desire to study in Xi'an is to enhance his Mandarin skills with his overall career goal to teach English to non-native speakers, with a preference for China. Currently, he is studying at Shaanxi Normal University which is one of China's top 120 universities. In addition to all of his hard studying, Matt has also taken the time to explore the wonders of Xi'an and even share that with others through the use of social media. Check out his WeChat to see him eating famous dishes from Xi'an.


Host Family Highlight: Roger and Lynn Brucker Lynn and Roger.jpg

 
UCIE launched a new Host Family program this semester that fosters friendship, cultural exchange, and hospitality between international studetns and American families in the greater Dayton area. The program aims to bring together international students and American families, not only to show hospitality and kindness to our international friends, but also to internationalize our beloved local community, known as Dayton, Ohio. The program has 40 American families (made up of WSU faculty, staff, students, and community members) and over 80 international students from 12 different countries. 
 
This month we are excited to highlight one of our host families, Roger and Lynn Brucker. They have been hosting many international students for the past 5 years through meals and various activities. They have hosted students from Thailand, China, India, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia. When asked about his experience hosting international students, Roger said, "We have met some people that have become good friends. We always enjoy learning new things and meeting new people. Our international students are exceptionally bright and their life experiences are exciting to hear." When asked why they host international students, Lynn said, "Our faith teaches us to welcome foreigners. These students are new to our country which means it's a new and scary place. We should be welcoming to them."
 
Lynn and Roger are also prominant cavers. They have been involved with expanding, surveying, and connecting Mammoth Cave to other caves for the past 64 years. Roger also taught Marketing at Wright State University as an adjunct professor for 25 years. "Hospitality is an important feature of many cultures. Its neat that we get to learn of places we have never been or will never be just by hosting international students. It's an educational experience all the way around!"-Roger and Lynn Brucker

 


International Students Give Back to Local Community14022180_10154260329496068_5243388469720007237_n.jpg

WSU international students have been busy giving back to the local community through a variety of volunteer opportunities. Once a month our international students visit a local Senior Center and spend time with adult seniors playing board games, billards, and enjoying rich conversations. When we asked one international student why she volunteers, she said, "It's good for the heart." Program Coordinator of Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley said "The (Adult Seniors) really enjoy the interactions and (the international students) put many smiles on their faces."

During the Healthy Communities Picnic and Dance Extravaganza on September 17th, 12 of our international students volunteered. "They were fabulous...a critical part of the whole event. We really couldn't do the picnic without them", said Katherine Cauley, Director for the Center for Healthy Communities.

Last but not least, 30 of our international students volunteered at a local Food Bank last July. Even though it's not their "hometown", they are still eager and willing to give of their time to make Dayton a better place. Our international students are quite the inspiration. How have you given back recently? 

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Upcoming UCIE Events

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