The accomplishments and contributions of two dozen visiting international students were celebrated Friday afternoon.
Brought together at the annual International Student & Scholar Farewell Celebration were exchange students from China, Belize, Hong Kong, Canada and Ireland; graduate students from Belize, India and Japan; undergraduate students from Ukraine and Cape Verde; and international scholars from Canada and China. Two additional visiting students were on exchange from Colorado.
Certificates were presented to the students by President Frederick W. Clark Jr. and Dr. Wendy Haynes, interim assistant provost and senior international officer.
Dr. Haynes said the event is meant to not only celebrate the success of the visiting students, but to thank them for all they brought to campus.
“There’s so much richness in what they bring and what they can teach us,” she said. “It’s really important to properly acknowledge this and to send them along their way with pride for all their accomplishments."
Two students spoke about their experiences, including Madison Buhre of Denver. She said that sometimes finding one’s destination means leaving the safety and security of home. Her time at BSU was special, she added.
“Thank you for this experience, and letting me know the true treasure in life is about the people you share it with,” she said.
Students Christina Mandico of Colorado and Jiayi Zhai of China performed the appropriately titled song, “Homeward Bound” by Marta Keen, with its resonant lyric, “Set me free to find my calling/And I’ll return to you somehow.”
The event was sponsored by the Office of International Student & Scholar Services and the Minnock Institute for Global Engagement. (Story and photos by John Winters, G’11, University News)