This year marks the 25th anniversary of Jackson State University’s International Week and the International Programs Office is pulling out all the stops to make this a memorable event.
This year’s theme, “JSU Global — Leading, Building, Embracing,” captures the essence of how Jackson State is leading the charge of global inclusion, according to Shirley Harrison, the office’s interim director.
To start, on Monday, the opening ceremony on the plaza will include fresh sushi made on the spot. This year’s movie, The Good Lie, will be shown Tuesday on the plaza, along with serving fresh-popped popcorn and soft drinks.
The week’s annual Bazaar will include displays from international students, a fashion show and a parade of flags. (Any student organizations interested in setting up a vendor space can contact Kathy Sims 601-979-3794.) The ice cream social will be a great opportunity to learn more about study abroad opportunities. And students are invited to play soccer at an international field event.
An International Night of Dance will highlight Thursday night, and Friday night’s International Scholarship and Awards Banquet is the culminating event of International Week.
The guest speaker is Wilbur Colom. A lawyer, businessman and philanthropist, Colom has received awards and citations from the American Association for Justice, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Magnolia Bar Association, the Mississippi Black Legislative Caucus, Jackson State University and Oakwood College, among many others.
His Colom Foundation has been instrumental, through the Washington D.C. based FirstBook program, in giving more than 375,000 books to disadvantaged children throughout the southeastern United States. With author John Grisham, he provided the initial funding for the Mississippi Innocence Project, a firm that specializes in helping wrongfully convicted prison inmates.
In his political activities, Colom was a member of President Ronald Reagan’s Transition Team and served on the Judicial Selection Committee for former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour.
At the annual banquet, attended by dignitaries, renowned scholars and global leaders, scholarships and awards are presented to students and those who have contributed to the internationalization of JSU and made significant contributions in international affairs.
Among the awards presented are the JSU Ralph Johnson Bunche Award, the Dag Hammarskjold Security and Peace Award, the International Pacesetter Awards, the Colin Powell Globalization Award, and the Chairman’s Service Award.
Also, during international week, the International Programs Office will officially be renamed JSU Global.
International Week is held annually to promote global awareness of the world’s many cultures through educational and entertaining activities.
JSU’s International Programs Office operates the only international visitor’s center in Mississippi with the International Visitor’s Center of Jackson, and offers English as a Second Language courses, translation services and study abroad opportunities for students.
JSU’s Passport to the World international study program for students was recently lauded by national, state and local leaders as a model not only for Mississippi but for the world.
Jackson State currently has 315 international students enrolled with 60 different countries represented.
For more information, see www.jsums.edu/global or contact Harrison at 601-979-1611.
The schedule includes:
Monday, March 23rd
OPENING CEREMONY/ INTERNATIONAL TASTE
12 p.m.- 2 p.m. @ Tiger Park
Contacts: Shirley Harrison (601) 979-2043
INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
JSU Student Center – Theater Room
Contact: Sunny Fridge (601) 979-3601
March 23rd – 26th
INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE
Jacob L. Reddix – General Purpose Room
Contact: Benjamin Ngwudike (601) 979-3405
Tuesday, March 24th
ICE CREAM SOCIAL
2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. Student Center Patio
Contact Person: Shirley Harrison (601) 979-2043
MOVIE ON THE PLAZA
The Good Lie
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Patio area of Student Center
Contact: Sunny Fridge (601) 979-3601
(Alternative location–JSU Student Center- Theater Room)
Wednesday, March 25th
PARADE OF FLAGS
9:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Lee E. Williams Athletic & Assembly Center
Contact: Lorena Lopez (601) 979-0809
INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR
9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Pedestrian Walkway
Contact: Kathy Sims (601) 979-3794
INTERNATIONAL SPORTS
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Intramural Track & Field
Contact: Umesh R. Remata (601) 979-7012
Thursday, March 26th
MODEL UNITED NATIONS
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Jacob L. Reddix Hall – General Purpose Room
Contact: Farah Christmas (601) 979-2948
INTERNATIONAL NIGHT OF DANCE
7 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Jacob L. Reddix–General Purpose Room
Contact: Kimberly Ward (601) 979-1755
Friday, March 27th
INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP & AWARDS BANQUET
6 p.m. – 8 p.m. JSU Student Center Ballroom
Contact Person: Shirley Harrison (601) 979- 1600