On behalf of Shawnee State University, the Center for International Programs and Activities (CIPA), Welcomes all their new international students attending SSU for their first Semester this fall.

1. ISSUE VOLUME YEAR
CENTER FOR INTERNATI ONAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES
FALL, 2011
CIPA
focus
On behalf of Shawnee State University, the Center for International
Programs and Activities (CIPA), under the guidance of Director Rita
Haider, fosters and promotes international understanding and global
perspective to the university community and the region served by
Shawnee State.
Welcome New and
Returning Students
CIPA would like to welcome all want to welcome back all our
our new international students returning international students
attending SSU for their first who have decided to stay at
semester this fall. Our study Shawnee for their college educa-
abroad program here at Shawnee tion. The diversity of cultures,
is as vibrant as it has ever been. ethnicities, and thought that our
This semester we have 22 new international students bring to
students from every corner of SSU makes them one of the
the world. They are ready to most important segments of the
leave their mark on SSU, and student body. We at CIPA want
perhaps SSU will leave a lasting to wish them all the best of luck
impression on them. We also for the fall semester.
Crop Hunger Walk
CIPA will once again be supporting the annual Crop Walk on October 16th
at 2:30 pm. The walk will begin in Tracy Park and walkers can choose to
walk either a 1-mile or a 3.5-mile course. Admission is one can of food, and
walkers look for sponsors who will also donate to the organization. The
money that is raised will go to support local food pantries, as well as provide
food and growing supplies to the poor and hungry of the world. Over 1 bil-
lion people are hungry in the world today and the goal of the Crop Walk this
year is to raise $30,000, which would help thousands of hungry families.

2. M EET
T HE
I NTERNATIONALS
From left bottom. El Mehdi Rahoui from
Morocco, Eric Allou from Ivory Coast,
Alina Dashkevich from Russia, Cemil
Guezel from Germany, Lusine
Tovmasyan from Armenia, Nida Zafar
from Pakistan, Rita Haider CIPA Director,
Alexandra Martinez from Honduras,
Huang Xueping and Li Jingxuan from
China, Ellen Berry CIPA Associate, Maria
Sanz-Taus from Spain, Anna Shchetinina
from Russia, Ali Noordin from Kenya,
Hala Akoushli from Syria, Marina Garcia
Marcos from Spain, Julia Schirholz, from
Germany, Eugenia Neaga from Spain,
Emma Sun from China, Clement Allou
from Ivory Coast, Raffaele Tufano from
Italy, Joseph Webster from England,
Sam Garcia from Philippines, Inna
Tarzhinskaya from Turkmenistan,
Oleksandr Vovk from Ukraine.
Sending SSU Out Into the
World
This fall semester we have three Ludwigsburg.
Shawnee students who are studying Until 1918,
abroad at our sister universities. Ludwigsburg was
Jasmine Tilford (pictured part of the kingdom of
right), and Ryan O’Donnell Trust me, the memories Wurttemburg. The
are studying this semester you make while abroad principal royal palace
in Morocco. Our Moroccan will stay with you of Wurttemburg is still
sister university is called Al forever. in the heart of
Akhawayn University, in KARLA BROWN, MOROCCO Ludwigsburg and is
the city of Ifrane, and is one 2008
said to be one of the
of the most prestigious most beautiful palaces
universities in Morocco. We also in Europe.
have 1 student studying in Germany We want to wish all our SSU
this semester. Audrey Howard is students abroad a fun and safe
studying at the University of semester.

3. International Mentor Program
Here at SSU we do our best to make sure that our international stu-
dents are well adjusted to this new environment. The International
Mentor Program has become one of our most successful efforts to-
ward that goal. All of our international students are paired with a lo-
cal student, who shows them the ropes around here. The pair work
together and plan trips, events, and all types of activities. The local
student also gets to have the experience of spending time with some-
one from a different culture who may have a totally different way of
thinking. The International Mentor Program helps both students to
learn new things about each other, and usually they end up learning
more about themselves.
Internationals Learn about “Real” Football
The Portsmouth High School Spartans football program gave a lesson to several
international students, teaching them about American football. In the internation-
al world their football is our soccer and our football is called American football.
Soccer is the dominant sport in almost every nation in the world, and most of our
international students have never even seen an American football game. The
coaches at PHS took the students out on the field and taught them the basics of
America’s game. The next day many students went to the PHS Spartans game
and got to see our sport in action.
International Week
On November 14th through the 18th, we will be having our annual International Week. We have
a great deal of activities and fun planned for that week—all with an international theme. Come
and experience the different cultures and ideas that make our world go round. You will have an
opportunity to meet all the international students and other people who are interested in all things
international. You’ll find games, an international meal, poetry and much more. So come and
experience the world right here in Portsmouth, Ohio.
Tecumseh
The SSU international students enjoyed another unique experience of
American and Southern Ohio culture when they traveled to Chillicothe to
see the outdoor drama Tecumseh. These students had no exposure to Na-
tive American culture prior to their coming to the states, and this show
was certainly something they will remember. Tecumseh was a great hero
to all Native Americans and his contribution to the history of the United
States and to Ohio was vast. Being able to learn about his life and impact
was a great insight to some of our rich local culture.