The United Nations Of Schools
With students from 100 nations enrolled at HPU, every day is an International Day, which is officially celebrated Friday
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Students at last year’s International Day show what
a diverse student body HPU has
It’s time for the annual Intercultural Day at Hawaii Pacific University’s downtown campus. Underlying this fun-filled occasion is a noteworthy achievement that is the envy of college communities everywhere.
We often take for granted the melting pot of races that blends into Hawaii’s population. But HPU has consciously used the Islands’ cultural uniqueness to brand itself as an international learning community. This strategic thinking has brought a United Nations of scholars to its doorstep.
To showcase the diversity of its student population, HPU annually stages an international fun fest that is now in its 22nd year. Students from Asia, Europe, Canada, South America and the Pacific Islands bring a taste of their homeland to share with fellow students and guests.
Everyone’s invited to go global for the day. No passport is needed. And it’s free.
The Council of Countries, an HPU student organization, sponsors this event, organized by student volunteers. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. with cultural exhibits, showing authentic artifacts, photos and educational materials from various countries. Attendees meet students from Japan, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Taiwan, Brazil, Norway, Korea, Singapore, Kenya, Thailand, Latin America, China, Samoa, Denmark, France and Malaysia.
A German student with two Samoan students
At 11:30 a.m., a colorful parade features students in traditional costumes, carrying national flags and banners. The procession starts at Fort Street Mall and continues on to King Street, Bishop Street and South Beretania.
Entertainment from 1 to 4 p.m. will spotlight the HPU International Chorale and Vocal Ensemble plus students performing traditional dances and music of their countries. The Vocal Ensemble is a select group of scholarship vocalists who in June will represent Hawaii at the 250th anniversary Mozart concert in Austria.
According to Ann Newton, director of international student services, more than 100 countries are represented in the total HPU enrollment of 8,000 students. In order to serve the needs of foreign students, an entire department is dedicated to recruitment, enrollment, counseling and support services.
Depending on the laws and politics of foreign countries, obtaining student visas to study in the United States can be quite complex and restrictive, says Scott C. Stensrud, HPU vice president of enrollment management. In the aftermath of 9/11, security clearings for studying aboard are meticulously monitored.
Why would anyone want to leave the comfort of home to travel miles to a dot in the Pacific Ocean to sit in a classroom? It didn’t take much convincing for four HPU students who told us what attracted them to Hawaii.
Mickey Kromann-Jensen from Denmark says Hawaii climate and weather were lures. Plus, he wanted an American university to study travel industry management. “What better place in the world than Hawaii?” he exclaims.
You will meet Kromann-Jensen at the Danish Dynamite booth, where he and other Danes will take you on a virtual tour to Denmark, land of the Vikings.
For Jourdanna Maga, a junior engineering major
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