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Center for International Studies

WESL Students Visit Wildlife Prairie Park | Cultural Café Spotlights Life in the Soviet Union | Office of Study Abroad Awards Scholarships | International Students Visit LaHarpe School | Students Prepare for Departure

WESL Students Visit Wildlife Prairie Park on Field Trip

On April 22, the students of WESL (Western’s English as a Second Language Institute) took a field trip to the Peoria, IL area and visited Illinois Wildlife Prairie Park, a nature and animal preserve featuring wildlife in an outdoor habitat. The students enjoyed viewing North American species such as bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, wolves, bears, and raptors while walking along the preserve’s trails. After their enjoyment of nature and wildlife, they headed into the city of Peoria for lunch at some ethnic restaurants. The 26 students were accompanied by four chaperones from the Center for International Studies:  Kevin Timlin, Kenneth Felts '06, Pam Klopf, and Ayouba Traore '07.

Cultural Café Spotlights Life in the Soviet Union

In March, CIS continued its popular Cultural Café series with a presentation titled "Life in the Soviet Union." Mr. Nijat Mammadli from Azerbaijan and Ms. Irada Nurasheva from Kazakhstan presented information about this region to an audience of 125 people. Pelmeni, a type of dumpling, and Russian vinaigrette salad were served. Each semester, CIS hosts three Cultural Cafes. Check the CIS website at www.wiu.edu/international for more information on upcoming presentations.

Office of Study Abroad Awards Scholarships

The Office of Study Abroad has chosen its scholarship recipients for the summer and fall academic semesters. Three scholarships were awarded; the WIU Study Abroad Scholarship, the Drs. James F. and Syndy M. Conger Scholarship, and the Beatrice Wehrly Study Abroad Scholarship. Fourteen applications were received for the WIU Study Abroad Scholarship and the James F. and Syndy M. Conger Scholarship combined, and four applications were received for the Beatrice Wehrly Study Abroad Scholarship. Of the applications received, one student was selected for each scholarship. The Drs. James F. and Syndy M. Conger Scholarship amount was $250, the WIU Study Abroad Scholarship was $500, and the Beatrice Wehrly Study Abroad Scholarship was $3,000.

International Students Visit LaHarpe School

In March, students at LaHarpe Junior High School were given the opportunity to learn about several different countries when nine international students from WIU visited the school to present information on their homelands. The nations represented were Togo, Congo, Mexico, Germany, Australia, Kenya, Denmark, Indonesia, and China. The WIU students love their countries and are eager to teach Americans about their culture. Likewise, the LaHarpe students enjoyed learning about these various nations. The WIU students were accompanied by Mr. Kevin Timlin, the director of the International Student Orientation and Activities office.

Students Prepare for Departure

On April 29th, forty-six students attended the Office of Study Abroad’s Pre-departure Orientation. These students will be participating in study abroad programs in the upcoming summer and fall semesters. Speakers were on hand to talk about a variety of topics including, registration, financial aid, health and safety, and culture shock. Members of Western’s Ambassadors for Study Abroad, a student organization devoted to promoting study abroad on campus, were also available to talk with students and answer questions. Students attending the pre-departure orientation will be studying in Europe, Central and South America, Asia, and Oceania.

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