Bucktail Youth Program Visits LHUP

Students from the Bucktail Youth Program meet with Thomas, a study abroad returnee, and Sun Young, a current international student at Lock Haven University.

The Bucktail Youth Leadership Program started as a pilot program in 2009 with students in Renovo attending Bucktail High School.  The program was instantly successful, and 2013 marks the fourth class to be enrolled.   Students are recommended to participate by their teachers and guidance counselor, and typically six to eight students are selected.   The youth leadership program introduces the students to leadership building, communication, and other life skills activities.  The students are involved in team-building, public speaking, and leadership exercises.   The program is a cooperative effort between The Clinton County Youth Council, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Keystone Central School District, and Leadership Clinton County Alumni Association.   Volunteers from the community give their time and resources to organize sessions that include travel throughout Clinton County as well as a visit with legislators in Harrisburg.  A highlight each year includes a visit to Lock Haven University for a “Day of Diversity” where the students talk to staff members in international students and cultural diversity; meet with international students and study abroad returnees, and learn about how to interact with those who may have a disability.

LHU student awarded prestigious Korean scholarship

Melissa McCollum, a junior psychology major, has been awarded the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) to study abroad this fall.  The GKS, which is an initiative by the Korean Government, aims to promote mutual understanding between world countries by facilitating educational exchange human resource mobility, thereby contribute to the development of international education peace.  McCollum will study at Chungnam National University, LHU’s partner institution in South Korea.

This award will cover many of the expenses that are associated with studying abroad.  Melissa received roundtrip airfare from the U.S. to Seoul; money to cover living expenses at CNU as well as health insurance.  The scholarship amounts to approximately $5000 USD.

Rosana Campbell, the director of the Institute for International Studies, is thrilled that Melissa has received this recognition and award.  “I am extremely proud of Melissa.  She is a great student and worked incredibly hard to create a strong essay for the scholarship.  The selection process is competitive.  This is a great achievement,” Campbell said.

McCollum, who is from Philadelphia, will be studying Korean language, culture, and politics while she is abroad.  Melissa was chosen as a recipient of the GKS based on her academic achievements as well as an essay.

Dr. Tara Mitchell, a professor of psychology and Melissa’s academic advisor says, “I am so proud of Melissa’s accomplishment.  She is a wonderful student in every way and is highly deserving of this scholarship.  I know that she will thrive in this experience and be a great representative of Lock Haven University’s students.”

More information on the GKS can be found at: http://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/en/sub/gks/gks_introduce.do

International Children’s Day at the YMCA

Last semester, we had the wonderful opportunity of working with the Lock Haven Area YMCA to plan a children’s event.  Children received a “passport” and traveled around to different countries. Each country had a different activity which was somehow tied to their local culture. International Children’s Day gave students the opportunity to share some of their culture with the local community and was very successful.

Faculty spotlight: Sports from multi-cultural perspectives

              In an inter-disciplinary effort Dr. Cengiz Yakut from the Health and Physical Education Department and Dr. Jim Bean from Psychology are studying sports attitudes and values from multi-cultural perspectives.  Why do many people around the world love sports as fans and participants?  Are there differences between cultures in sports values, as well as, common attitudes? To answer these and other questions the researchers use online surveys written in a number of languages.

             They recently presented some of their data at the 2012 International Sociology of Sport Association Conference in Glasgow, Scotland UK.   They compared American sports attitudes with German and Austrian respondents and found common, as well as, differing attitudes.

               It was concluded that, even with this limited sample; there may, indeed, be sport universals as well as particulars due to cultural variances in values.  This spring the researchers will begin surveying respondents in a broader global sample using surveys translated into Spanish, French, Russian, German, Arabic, Italian, and Turkish and will then move to Asian countries and languages.

Two LHU students to receive Gilman Scholarship

Nytashia Ennis and Rachel Marra who are currently attending Lock Haven University will be awarded with the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship for international travel. The selection process for this scholarship is very competitive and to be an award winner is an honor.

Read more about the Gilman Scholarship winners on the LHU website by clicking HERE.

Eagle Explorers travel far and wide!

The Eagle Explorer program is an effort by the Institute for International Studies to show international students historical and cultural points of interest while they are visiting the US. This semester the Eagles Explorers coordinated trips to Hershey Park, New York City, the Amish countryside and Washington, D.C.

The Hershey Park trip, which took place in the beginning of the semester, was a chance to show international students about American theme park culture as well as the American candy industry. Hershey Park, which is home to roller coasters, a zoo, and the incomparable Chocolate World provided something for everyone involved. Although the fun ended early due to rain, students got to make up lost time with some shopping at the Tanger Outlets. Check out some of the great Hershey Park photos HERE.

Following Hershey Park, the Eagle Explorers went to New York City for a full two and a half days. Students had a chance to visit the Freedom Towers, take a tour on a double-decker bus and walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Visiting historical sites such as the Flatiron Building and enjoying an American classic, sloppy Joe’s, for lunch filled the Saturday before a group dinner. Many students took advantage of their free time with museums, cultural landmarks, and shopping before heading back to Lock Haven. To see some of the photos our students took on the NYC trip, click HERE.

Staying local, Ms. Shawn O’Dell organized a trip to explore the Amish countryside. Because the Amish culture is one that is completely unique to North America, this was a great opportunity to show international students a side of America they might not regularly see. After visiting a small farm store in Salona, a short bus tour around the local area illustrated that while Amish people live within our society, their culture is very different from ours. Take a look at photos from the Amish farm trip on the IIS Facebook HERE.

To end the semester, the Eagle Explorers headed to the nation’s capital, Washington D.C. Touring Arlington Cemetery as a group, there was a good deal of history shared and everyone was able to witness the traditional “Changing of the Guard” Ceremony in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. Additionally, the group took a guided tour of the Capitol to learn some history behind the building as well as the present day happenings in Congress. After the group activities, students had their choice of museums and monuments to visit. The most popular of the Eagle Explorers trip, Washington D.C. was definitely a success.

The Eagle Explorers program will coordinate more trips this spring for our new incoming international students and others that are interested. Some future visits will include New York City, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.

International Education Week 2012

International Education Week (IEW) is an initiative by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education “to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.”

Lock Haven University’s Institute for International Studies held a full week of events beginning with an “unofficial” start to the week with a Day of the Dead celebration at Avenue 209 Coffee House. This event was part of the annual Culture Through Coffee series and included a presentation by Yessica Sanchez, an exchange student from Mexico, and Dr. Judy Brink whose studies are specialized in Day of the Dead customs and traditions.

In an effort to collaborate with the local community, international student participated in a first time event, ‘International Children’s Day at the YMCA.’ The children in attendance received a ‘passport’ and traveled around to different ‘countries’ to see some customs from around the world. To see photos from International Children’s Day at the YMCA, click HERE.

The official kick off to IEW was Monday, November 5 and started with tea and crumpets for the campus. Visiting campus on Monday night was belly dancer Maia Alexandra from Buffalo, NY. Alexandra performed several numbers and then held a workshop about belly dancing while exclaiming all the time “I love belly dancing!” Her enthusiasm was contagious as everyone in the room was soon learning the basics and having a great time. You can see a video of her performance HERE.

The Institute for International Studies also held an election watch party moderated by political scientists Dr. Brooke Harlowe and Dr. Stan Berard. The Parsons Union Building  Multi-Purpose Room was decked out with patriotic decorations and included discussion about the democratic process in the United States. International movie night followed and featured the documentary Babies, which contrary to its name, is about much more than. The films shows the customs of four cultures from around the world while documenting four babies from first breath to first birthday.

IIS Director, Rosana Campbell and IEW Keynote Speaker, Derreck Kayongo

Derreck Kayongo, who visited campus November 8, was the Keynote Speaker for IEW. Kayongo founded the Global Soap Project which recycles hotel soap and distributes it to countries in need. A native Ugandan, Kayongo fled to Kenya with his family after life under the dictatorship of Idi Amin became uncertain and massacres left many people dead in the streets. While attending college in the US, and seeing how much soap was wasted, Kayongo made a plan to give soap to people that could not afford it. Years later, after college, research and networking, the Global Soap project was born. Very animated, Kayongo kept the attention of the audience that packed Hamblin Hall of Flags. He spoke about the importance of making an impact on the world and leaving it better than it is now. Concluding with an African song, the whole audience was captivated and involved singing in Swahili the words that Kayongo had taught them as he danced around the room. Check out a video of the song HERE.

International scholarship information sessions were also held for both students and faculty. Scholarships discussed included the Fulbright, Boren and Gilman Scholarships. These conversations were led by members of the Fulbright Committee who has received a Fulbright as well as prepared students for submitting successful applications.

Closing International Education Week was another Culture Through Coffee event at Avenue 209. Mario Fanari, an exchange student, spoke about Italy and specifically the island of Sardinia. Fanari said he is very proud of where he comes from and many of the great people and customs that come from Italy. Lacy Pepperman, an LHU graduate, also shared some photos from her study abroad experience at the University of Cagliari.

Rosana Campbell, Director of the Institute from International studies said “International Education Week was a success and it was great to see such a wonderful turnout at the events.”