Jackson State University concluded its annual International Week April 11 with the International Scholarship and Awards Banquet featuring keynote speaker U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran.
The annual weeklong event showcases the various cultures and ethnicities of students from around the world who attend the historically black university. JSU has 306 international students who are from 50 different countries.
“We want to bring more international students to JSU,” said International Programs Director Dr. Lokesh Shivakumaraiah. “We have programs, faculty and a campus that’s appealing. The more our international campus community grows, it helps support our mission of producing high achievers, who are culturally sensitive and globally aware.”
Beginning this fall, International Programs will sponsor a campus lecture series for ambassadors, former ambassadors and other leaders with international ties.
Cochran studied international law for a year under a Rotary Foundation Fellowship at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
During the banquet, winners of the International Student of the Year Award were recognized. Ph.D. student Clauditte Tchakounte Tchakoua of Cameroon won the graduate student of the year award, and Christina R. DeSilva of Milwaukee, Wis., won the undergraduate student of the year. The awards acknowledge exceptional personal contributions of international students in bringing cultural awareness and appreciation of diversity on JSU campus and the Jackson community.
JSU’s International Week events also icluded a film festival, peace conference, parade of flags, ice cream social and an international night of dance.