Upcoming events

May 25, 2010 Study Abroad will begin New Student Conference and Transfer Student Information Tables

Study Abroad staff will inform students and parents about study abroad opportunities and the process to start researching and applying for.

May 27-28, 2010 Visit from the U.S. Dept of State Professional Advising Leadership (Pal) Fellow

The Office of Global Initiatives and International Programs are hosting Ms. Micaela Martinez from Saltillo, Mexico, who will meet with various departments across the university.

June 24-25, 2010 Community of Respect Train-the-Trainer’s WorkshopA cross-cultural, nationally recognized program hosted by the Office of International Out-reach.

July 22-26, 2010 Network Regional European Scholars ConferenceThis conference will look at the interplay of policy, governance, and democracy in Europe to determine the interrelationships of these general processes. It will focus on how democratic processes and institutions affect policy and governance, and how policy and governance affect democracy.

August 3-4, 2010 Teaching about the Middle East and Islam – Perspectives, Strategies and Resources

A workshop designed by Barbara Petzen, Education Director of the Middle East Policy Council, as a comprehensive resource for educators seeking balanced and innovative materials for teaching about the Middle East.

the Off ce of Global InitiativesInternational Programs Off ce and

Newsletter for May 2010

InternatIonal Student ServIceS International DayInternational Day was held on Wednesday, April 14 at Rudder Exhibit Hall and Theater. Proclaimed by many as a rousing success, over 300 students, family and faculty attended the Variety Show and the Cultural Displays! Individuals were able to cruise around the world by visiting 17 tables hosted by country-specific clubs. Visitors were also allowed an opportunity to visit with student organizations that focus on increasing Aggie awareness on campus. When finished with their trips, visitors were able to speak with advisors from the offices of Study Abroad and International Student Services.

The Variety Show featured traditional to contemporary dancing from nine groups with guest performances by Salsa Fusion, Singing Cadets and both the TAMU Bellydancers and Victoria Teel performing Belly dances. Audiences were entertained by the performances and educated by the introductory presentations.

Awards for the Variety Show and Cultural Displays were awarded at the Review and Reward meeting on Sunday, April 25.

New StudentISS would like to welcome aboard our two new student workers and Intern. Megan Boswell, Katie Fox, and Justin Ellis.

InternatIonal ProgramS offIce

Eppright Outstanding International Student AwardAnand Narayanan, a Ph.D. student in Biology from India, was named the 2009-2010 Eppright Outstanding International Student for his involvement in student activities, his commitment to excellence, and his work with international organizations at Texas A&M. The Eppright Award is the university’s highest recognition to a currently enrolled international student.

The award was presented to him by Dr. Karan L. Watson, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, at the All University Awards Ceremony during Parents’ Weekend on April 18, 2010. Anand is no stranger to the All-University Awards, as he was recognized with the Diversity Award, Buck Weirus Spirit Award and was named to Who’s Who among students in American Colleges and Universities at the ceremony in 2009.

Anand is an active member of the University Apartments Community Council and the International Graduate Students’ Association. He organized two collection drives in the University Apartments; the proceeds were donated to Twin City Mission and victims of Hurricane Ike. He has also assisted this year with fundraising for Haiti relief efforts.

Riyadh Chakmachi, a former international student from Iraq, created the Outstanding International Student Award in 1985. In 1991, the award was endowed through the generosity of the late Col. George J. Eppright, class of 1926. The criterion to receive this prestigious award includes an excellent academic record, involvement in a wide array of university and community activities, and promotion of international awareness on campus and in the community.

Anand Narayanan receives the Eppright Outstanding International Student Award.

Above: Photos taken at Interna-tional Day variety show and cultural displays.

Honorable Mentions for the award were: Masa Sukovic, a Ph.D. student in Communications from Serbia, and Maria Fernandez, an undergraduate student in Political Science from Mexico.

Study abroad

National Student Employment WeekLast week was National Student Employment Week and part of this “celebration” was the Texas A&M Student Employee of the Year Award Ceremony held Thursday, April 15 at the Alumni Center. Study Abroad Peer Counselor Ieva Romenkova was nominated by Michael Clement, and Ieva received an award along with 40 other students. Two students received the “Class of 1956 Student Employee Endowed Award” and Ieva was selected as one of those two outstanding students.

Ieva said, “Still can’t believe it! I feel so honored and so excited and happy, I can’t even describe! Thank you all for being such an awesome office to work for and thank you for nominating me, especially Michael who wrote the “winning nomination essay!”

Study Abroad Programs Office Awards ScholarshipsThe Study Abroad Programs Office announces the awarding of over 240 scholarships in excess of 70 different programs for study in Summer 2010. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $2,000 depending on the length of study. All study abroad students were eligible to apply and a record number of applications were received making the awarding very competitive. The Study Abroad Programs Office awards scholarships to support students for each semester as well as the winter and summer terms. For more information about the Study Abroad Programs Office or the program offerings, please visit http://studyabroad.tamu.edu/”

New Student Conferences CommenceThe Study Abroad Programs Office will be recruiting transfer students and incoming freshmen to participate in study abroad programs during May, June, and July. Students and their parents will have an opportunity to pick up brochures and ask questions of study abroad advisors during the information table sessions held in Sbisa Dining Hall and G. Rollie White Coliseum. The Aggie Orientation Leader Program (AOLP) and New Student Programs will have a study abroad advisor, faculty, and staff from across campus attend a Freshman Dinner held at each of our Freshman New Student Conferences. Freshman Dinner provides an opportunity for new students to separate from their family members, mingle with other new students and orientation leaders who are within the same college, and enjoy a free dinner in Duncan Dining Hall!

Summer Study Abroad Programs DepartThe Study Abroad Programs Office is assisting professors and students ready for departure on their study abroad programs for summer session one. Already, there are programs in different countries on Maymester programs. We are excited the students and professors have decided to take this international education experience.

Second from the left: Ieva Romenkova receives the TAMU Student Employee of the Year Award.

SAPO staff answers questions of new incoming freshman and hands out information.

eu center & the offIce of InternatIonal outreach

Over 400 Students Zoom Out for a Global ViewOver 400 students in grades six through twelve from schools within the neighboring Brazos Valley and as far away as Laredo, TX (west), Corsicana (north), and Clear Lake, TX (south) converged at Texas A&M University on Wednesday, May 5 to attend the third annual Zooming Out for a Global Perspective conference.

This annual event, sponsored by the Office of International Outreach, the European Union Center, the Education Department of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and the Academy for Future International Leaders (AFIL) at Texas A&M University, engaged students in learning about current global issues and considering solutions, challenges, conflicts and consequences to the issues through research, project development, and participation in the one-day conference.

Students submitted projects before the conference either individually or in teams, which were reviewed and judged by staff from the Office of International Outreach and the European Union Center, and students in the AFIL at Texas A&M University. First, second, third and honorable mention winners were selected for Grade 6, Grade 9, and Grades 10-12 groups.

The day of the event students arrived in time to set up their project posters in the Allen Building lobby area. They then gathered in the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center auditorium to hear Dr. Christine A. Stanley, Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity, give welcoming remarks on behalf of the University and introduce the keynote speaker, Mr. Rick Younts. Younts, a Texas A&M graduate in electrical engineering spent his career working in international positions for Motorola. Currently he serves as an executive member of the International Board at Texas A&M and as an AFIL mentor. His speech on “Doing Business in a Global Environment” was engaging and well received by the students!

Afterward the students broke into groups of 10 and participated in round-table discussions about specific global issues that were facilitated by Texas A&M students from across the campus. Through their research in preparation of their projects, students were able to engage in lively discussions that demonstrated their understanding of issues spreading across a variety of topics including:

After lunch, the students were joined by Texas A&M faculty for a one-hour poster session. Faculty and students from the university had the opportunity to review the posters and interact with the project developers – the students!

After the poster session, the group gathered for a wrap up session, where the findings from the round-table discussions were reviewed and awards were given to the students who created the winning projects. In addition, first place winners in each grade level category presented their work during the ceremony. The conference concluded with a tour of the Bush Presidential Library and Museum.

This program was coordinated by Enriqueta (Katie) Perez, a senior political science and English double major, who plans to attend law school and focus on international law and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. She chose to coordinate the conference as her international challenge project for her Academy class this semester and was directed by Ms. Martha Green, Program Coordinator, Office of International Outreach.

Students at round table discussions.

Poster session in the Allen Building.

An example of some students’ poster.

Enriqueta Perez (Katie) chose the Global Issues Zooming Out conference as her international challenge project for the Academy class this semester under the direction of Ms. Martha Green, Program Coordinator, Office of International Outreach.

Enews is provided by each IPO and VPGL’s unit’s Communications Council representative:

•Katherine Cantrell

•Ana Laura Bauza

•Gosia Wright

•Ashley Haguewood

•Kristina Reyes

•Angelina Fonseca

•Christa Smithwick

•James Mendiola

•Renae Vargo

•Linda Edwards

Please send ENEWS submissions to Renae Vargo at rvargo@tamu.edu and calendar submissions to Linda Edwards at l-edwards@tamu.edu

This year, the Office of International Outreach and the EU Center were thrilled at the campus-wide support for the program. A very diverse group of the University’s international and national students and faculty from many colleges – Architecture, Liberal Arts, Engineering, Education, Health Science Center, Mays Business School, Veterinary Science, Science and Geosciences – participated in elements of the day-long program.

“It has been wonderful, we have so many engaged students this year,” Perez said, “it is never too early to expose students to globalization and to get them on a college campus.” Perez said she thinks it is important for these students to see successful role models who have embraced a new culture in which to live and work as they began their careers and who went on to become leaders in their field.

Students who attended the Zooming Out Conference had a fulfilling opportunity to focus on global issues, and also had an opportunity to meet and interact with Aggies and Texas A&M faculty. Though not a central program goal when the program was conceived three years ago, this annual event has turned into a great recruiting tool as well as a fantastic and powerful platform for raising global awareness.

Above: Ben Petty converses with students at the one hour poster session.

Right: Students from Groesbeck ISD pose with their trophies.

Above from the left: Emily Ashworth, Christine Stanley, Katie Perez and Rick Younts.

Left: A student from Laredo, TX gives a presentation on the group’s project.