The colorful flags of 90 countries were on display during Walsh University’s annual International Flag Ceremony on Wednesday, November 20. Hosted by the World Student Organization, this special event is held each year to formally welcome new and returning international students to Walsh. This fall, the University welcomed more than 122 international students from 34 countries to campus.
“These flags represent the unity and culture of our more than 100 international students on campus,” said Director of Student International Services Kristi Campbell. “If a student arrives to Walsh from a country that has never been a part of our family, we have the President honor and officially accept their flag to our collection.”
The event featured desserts from around the world and entertainment by the Walsh University Chorale, a Nepal dance by Roja Burawal and a musical selection by Hyunseong Cho from South Korea.
“I’m an international student. And over the past few years, I have greatly appreciated the effort that faculty and staff have made to reach out and support us,” said World Student Organization President Elioth Bernard from Haiti. “This is such an amazing event. It shows how much Walsh appreciates our diversity, and how we put a focus on encouraging our students to interact with other cultures and embrace our differences.”
The event is held each year as a part of International Education Week which includes classroom visits by international students, a photo exhibition, food and culture series and “Passport to the World” video presentations in the Marlene and Joe Toot Global Learning Center.
“What we’re trying to do at Walsh University is offer our students a different perspective. We will not be successful until we create an environment where we can see the invisible, we can hear the inaudible and where we can believe something that is incredible and think the unthinkable,” said Dr. Tim Collins. “When our students can do all that, opportunity will present itself. To our international students, you are a point of pride for this University. On behalf of this entire community, thank you for choosing Walsh University.”
Walsh’s newest flags Burundi, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Ethiopia were added to the collection, which has grown to include more than 90 flags from around the world. In addition to the U.S., the top countries represented by students on campus are Saudi Arabia, Bolivia, Canada and Nepal.
Upcoming World Student Organization events include the highly anticipated annual International Dinner on March 21, 2020.
