2008 Woodie Awards
Students celebrate International Day during Chapel Wednesday
Charlotte Holman
Issue date: 4/13/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Southwest Baptist University international students were spotlighted during a special International chapel service Wednesday, April 4.
Chapel coincided with other activities marking International Day, including an international meal in Mellers Dining Commons.
President Dr. C. Pat Taylor encouraged students to celebrate International Day by wearing clothes and jewelry from other countries, attending Chapel and eating in Mellers Dining Commons.
The International Studies Committee, a committee of faculty and a student representative that serves Intercultural Studies students, missionary kids and international students sponsored the chapel service.
The Chapel service featured both missionary kids and international students.
Professor of Psychology Dr. Shelley Kilpatrick and Adjunct Professor of Communications Ben Kilpatrick organized the service.
The Kilpatricks met with students who were interested in participating and planned the service.
"We tried to make it student led as much as possible," said Dr. Kilpatrick.
With the Kilpatricks as overseers, the students themselves did most of the planning.
"We wanted to make sure our student body could identify that there are many students here of different nationalities," said senior Ivry Karamitros, a missionary kid from China. "We wanted them to get to know these students."
International Chapel kicked off with a parade of flags. Twenty flags representing the home countries of the international students were marched into Mabee Chapel by missionary kids, international students and faculty.
Akosua Offei-Danso from Ghana, West Africa introduced the flags.
After the parade of flags, senior Chie Komamiya, from Japan, performed a traditional Japanese dance.
After SBU students were exposed to some Japanese culture, they were given a chance to participate by showing off how well they knew SBU's international students. Karamitros and graduate student Vicki Bright from England hosted the game.
Two international students came on-stage, and the hostesses read descriptions of each. The crowd had to pick which description matched which student. The crowd did well, winning most of the rounds.
"Some students may be intimidated by students from another culture," said Karamitros. "Our goal was to let students know that international students shouldn't intimidate them. We can learn a lot from each other."
Professor of Political Science Dr. Kwasi Ofori-Yeboah concluded the service by leading the students in the Lord's Prayer, first in his native language and then in English. Ofori-Yeboah is originally from Ghana, West Africa.
There are currently about 50 international students representing about 30 countries enrolled at SBU this semester.
Chapel coincided with other activities marking International Day, including an international meal in Mellers Dining Commons.
President Dr. C. Pat Taylor encouraged students to celebrate International Day by wearing clothes and jewelry from other countries, attending Chapel and eating in Mellers Dining Commons.
The International Studies Committee, a committee of faculty and a student representative that serves Intercultural Studies students, missionary kids and international students sponsored the chapel service.
The Chapel service featured both missionary kids and international students.
Professor of Psychology Dr. Shelley Kilpatrick and Adjunct Professor of Communications Ben Kilpatrick organized the service.
The Kilpatricks met with students who were interested in participating and planned the service.
"We tried to make it student led as much as possible," said Dr. Kilpatrick.
With the Kilpatricks as overseers, the students themselves did most of the planning.
"We wanted to make sure our student body could identify that there are many students here of different nationalities," said senior Ivry Karamitros, a missionary kid from China. "We wanted them to get to know these students."
International Chapel kicked off with a parade of flags. Twenty flags representing the home countries of the international students were marched into Mabee Chapel by missionary kids, international students and faculty.
Akosua Offei-Danso from Ghana, West Africa introduced the flags.
After the parade of flags, senior Chie Komamiya, from Japan, performed a traditional Japanese dance.
After SBU students were exposed to some Japanese culture, they were given a chance to participate by showing off how well they knew SBU's international students. Karamitros and graduate student Vicki Bright from England hosted the game.
Two international students came on-stage, and the hostesses read descriptions of each. The crowd had to pick which description matched which student. The crowd did well, winning most of the rounds.
"Some students may be intimidated by students from another culture," said Karamitros. "Our goal was to let students know that international students shouldn't intimidate them. We can learn a lot from each other."
Professor of Political Science Dr. Kwasi Ofori-Yeboah concluded the service by leading the students in the Lord's Prayer, first in his native language and then in English. Ofori-Yeboah is originally from Ghana, West Africa.
There are currently about 50 international students representing about 30 countries enrolled at SBU this semester.
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