02/18/20
Gadsden State to host annual 国际 Festival
阿拉巴马州的加兹登. — 网上赌博网站十大排行 is home to the Alabama Language Institute and a renowned international program that attracts almost 100 students from around the world to gain an education, learn the English language and experience a new culture. 42nd annual 国际 Festival will be from 4 p.m. 到8点.m. 2月. 28 at the Wallace Hall 美术 Center in celebration of the array of countries represented at Gadsden State.
“We hope people will take this opportunity to come to Gadsden State to learn more about our students’ native countries and to build relationships within our community,贝基·达克特说, 国际项目主任.
这是传统, international students will create country displays that will showcase the great aspects of their home countries. Gadsden State has 94 internationally-born students from 30 countries.
“我们将展出来自巴林的展品, 巴西, 中国, 日本, 约旦, 肯尼亚, 韩国, 叙利亚, 火鸡, 也门和其他国家,”她说。. “Our students have a lot to share with our community about their countries.”
国际 Festival participants can tour the country displays and enjoy food from three unique food trucks from 4 p.m. 到下午6点.m. 食品卡车包括麦琪农场, serving southern fare such as a smoked bologna sandwich, pulled pork nachos and chili; The Jamaican Jerk, which specializes in different types of kabobs as well as an oxtail bowl and vegan black-eyed pea patties; and La Herradura Taqueria, 提供炸玉米饼, burritos and tortas with a variety of meats to choose from. 食物是要收费的.
There will be displays featuring 19 countries at the 国际 Festival. The event is free and open to the public.
6点15分.m., the program will start with the Parade of Nations inside the Wallace Hall 美术 Center followed by greetings from Dr. Martha Lavender, president of Gadsden State. Student performers will take the stage to showcase song, music and dance from their countries. 一些表演者包括:
- Maira de Melo Rodvalho Oliveira from 巴西 will play the guitar and sing “Girl from Ipanema.”
- 阿什顿灰色, 加兹登居民, 米歇尔·卡德纳斯·查孔, 来自哥伦比亚的学生, will dance a salsa that tells the history of slavery in Colombia.
- Jiho Song from 韩国 will perform a traditional Korean folk song on the piano.
- A group of students from multiple African countries will perform a native dance.
The hosts of the 国际 Festival are Malek Omri from Tunisia and Florence Obiageli 浏览器 from Nigeria. Like many of Gadsden State’s international students, 浏览器 learned about the College after her brother, 亨利, 2016年入学.
“因为我哥哥, my parents were familiar with Gadsden State, so they felt comfortable sending me here,”她说。. “I chose Gadsden State because I wanted to have the college experience in America before going to a four-year university.”
浏览器’s village is Onicha-Ugbo located in Delta State, an oil and agricultural producing state in Nigeria. Her mother works as the vice principal at a high school, and her father is a chief in her village as well as an attorney. 在学年期间, 欧姆就读于伊迪姆的克里斯兰学院, a boarding school located in the capital city of Lagos.
“We don’t have public schools that are as good as the public schools in America,”她说。. “People have to work really hard to be able to put their kids in a good private school.”
每个月的最后一个星期天, her parents would visit her at her boarding school, which is located two hours from her home. During the holidays, her father always insisted that she return to her village.
“He always wants us to come to our village so we stay connected to our culture and to our roots,”她说。.
浏览器 came to Gadsden State in August 2018 and is studying computer science. She hopes to transfer to Georgia Institute of Technology with dreams of doing business intelligence development as a data engineer.
“一旦我完成学业, I intend to return to Nigeria to help improve its educational system,”她说。. “I want to help students get an education at good schools. Everyone around the world deserves a good education.”
Florence Obiageli 浏览器 is pictured in a traditional Nigerian dress during Love Feast, an event where students are blessed with prayers and gifts, 在尼日利亚的寄宿学校.
浏览器, who lives in Fowler Residence Hall with 24 other international students, serves as vice president of public relations for Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society and public relations officer for 学生 Without Borders. She is also a member of the Circle K service organization and the Student Government Association.
“I’m glad I’m at Gadsden State,”她说。. “The city is smaller, quieter than Lagos. I’m able to really focus on my education without distraction. Gadsden State is such a nice place to start my educational journey.”
For more information about the 国际 Festival, call 256-549-8438 or visit them on 脸谱网 at www.脸谱网.com/GSCC国际Programs.
Pictured on homepage: Florence Obiageli 浏览器, 左, is pictured with her classmates during Love Feast at Chrisland College Idimu, 尼日利亚的一所寄宿学校. Love Feast is an event where students are blessed with prayers and gifts.