More than $1,000 in ticket sales and donations was collected Tuesday, March 3, at the IUS International Festival to support overseas study scholarships.
The festival, which had an estimated 250 people in attendance, highlighted the foods, clothing and cultures of more than a dozen different countries.
The entertainment featured a fashion show coordinated by professional model Ahlaen Simic which showcased traditional outfits from more than a dozen countries. Flamenco dancing, South American folk music performed by LA MUSICTAVA, henna tattoos and belly dancing were also a part of the festival.
Some of the countries featured were: Ecuador, India, Japan, Germany, Israel, Japan, China, Jamaica, France, Mongolia, and Ireland.
Spokespeople from each country represented spoke to the audience about their featured nation.
Magdalena Estevez-Herdoiza, associate professor of education, represented Ecuador and told the crowd about her ongoing efforts to help the rural communities of that country.
“We would like for the people here in the community to know that we are doing some interesting things involving our students and the community in Ecuador,” Estevez-Herdoiza said.
Isabel Estevez, another member of the Ecuador booth, was a speaker at IU Southeast’s spring lecture series.
Estevez invited the crowd to a benefit dinner which will feature Ecuadorian food, music and drink as a way to raise additional funds for villagers in Ecuador and IUS students going to assist them.
The dinner will be held April 1, in downtown Louisville. Anyone interested in attending can contact Estevez at iestevez5@gmail.com.
Frank Wadsworth, professor of business administration and director of international programs, said there are 21 students who have applied to study abroad this summer or next fall, and all money raised from the festival is going to help them pay for their travel expenses.
“Expenses for some overseas study programs can run from $10,000 to $20,000 depending on where you go and for how long,” Wadsworth said. “The most expensive one I know of is a semester in Dublin which costs $21,000 for a semester.”
Despite the high cost for 6 to 9 college credits, Wadsworth said he strongly encourages students to pursue a study abroad program.
“You get to learn about another culture, which makes you more employable when you look for a job in the United States,”
Wadsworth said. “You want to look for ways to differentiate yourself, and a study abroad program would be a way to differentiate yourself from the 200 other people who could be applying for the same job.”
Wadsworth said he estimates that less than one percent of the IUS student body applies to study abroad each year. He added that more than 50 percent of the students at IU Bloomington’s Kelley School of Business complete a study abroad program annually.
Wadsworth said he thinks the lack of IUS student participation is due to the fact that most IUS students are balancing a job and school.
“I think most of our students are earning their way through school, and that is much less likely to happen at Bloomington,” Wadsworth said.
Wadsworth said he was happy with the turnout at the festival, but that it would not have been possible without help from the International Programs Council, chaired by Charles Poozer, French instructor and Jodie Beatty, admissions coordinator for international students. Beatty was in charge of the IUS student volunteers, and she credited them with the festival’s overall success.
Two shifts of more than twenty students ushered guests, served food and helped setup and take down the decorations and balloons that decorated University Center 122.
By MICHAEL MARCELL
Staff writer
mdmarcel@ius.edu
