Events celebrate international students

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Nov. 3, 2016) California Lutheran University will highlight its international students and study abroad programs during International Education Week Nov. 14 through 18 on the Thousand Oaks campus.

Cal Lutheran’s observance of the week, which is a joint initiative of the U.S. departments of State and Education, will include a World Fair and International Chapel Service that are open to the public.

The fair will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, in Soiland Recreation Center. The theme is “Around the Continents in One Evening.” The celebration will feature food, entertainment and displays from countries represented at Cal Lutheran.

The worship service will begin at 11:25 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, in Samuelson Chapel. Students will carry flags for each of the countries represented at Cal Lutheran. Penny Cefola, an associate professor of English who was born in Thailand, will speak about what it was like for her as an international student earning a master’s degree and doctorate from Georgetown University. She will also discuss the experiences of Cal Lutheran’s international students and study abroad participants.

Throughout the week, international students will speak in the residence halls. The university’s first international storytelling contest will be held on Nov. 18, and a nongovernmental organization fair is planned for Nov. 15.

The number of students who are citizens of another country taking classes this fall is 427. They make up 10 percent of the student body. They come from 35 countries. The largest sending countries are, in descending order, China, Saudi Arabia, India, Taiwan, Austria, Thailand, Norway, Japan, Sweden and Brazil. Other home countries include Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Honduras, Myanmar, Nigeria, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, Ukraine and Vietnam.

Cal Lutheran offers study abroad programs in more than 70 countries around the world. Each year, about 200 students participate in semester, summer and yearlong programs and faculty-led seminars. Twenty-one percent of 2016 graduates studied abroad or participated in a travel seminar during their time at Cal Lutheran.

Soiland Recreation Center is located inside Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, which is on the north side of Olsen Road between Campus Road and Mountclef Boulevard. Samuelson Chapel is located at 165 Chapel Lane.

Cal Lutheran’s Office of Multicultural Programs and International Student Services is sponsoring the free events. For more information, contact Linda C. Boberg at lboberg@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3323.