Ten international students from five different countries were celebrated last Thursday night as Garrett College hosted An Evening Abroad in the Edwards CARC gymnasium.
Tawananyasha Mirira (Zimbabwe), Musulyn Pinney (Liberia), Courtney Milner (United Kingdom), Manuela Peres de Castro and Sara Tabuena (both Spain), and Canadians Wyatt Slocum, Lucas Bridger, Stefan Machkovski, Bernardo Giancarlo, and Brandon Metivier were all recognized.
Each of the five national anthems were played at the event, which included food favorites from each country. Nyama (Zimbabwean beef stew), Liberian jollof rice, poutine, tortilla de patato, and afternoon tea with cookies were the featured foods.
The event included a large turnout of Garrett College employees and students as well as community members.
"It was nice to see everyone," said Milner, added that the event "reminded all of us of home."
Director of Institutional Compliance Shelley Menear, Director of Human Resources Janis Bush, and Director of Admissions and Recruitment Melissa Wass organized the event.
Karen Lauer and other members of the GFWC Civic Club of Oakland also provided support for the event, as did former Garrett College Trustee Vianne Bell and Crellin Elementary School Counselor Tim Watson. Bell, Watson, Crellin Elementary School Principal Dana McCauley and Grantsville Elementary School Principal Tracie Miller are key leaders of the Garret College-Garrett County Public Schools program that brings the College's international students into GCPS elementary school classes.
Garrett College coaches were also out in force at the event, as many of the GC international students play sports for the Lakers. Half of this year's international contingent – Canadians Slocum, Bridger, Machkovski, Giancarlo, and Metivier – are players on the Garrett College baseball team while Peres de Castro (women's soccer and basketball), Milner (women's soccer), and Tabuena (women's soccer) also play on GC athletic teams.
"I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout," said Menear. "It was a challenge pulling everyone's schedule together. When we knew how excited the [international] students were about the event, we knew we had to find a way to get it done."
Bush said basic word of mouth brought many community members to the event.
"An entire family came after they heard about the event from one of their children's mentors at Garrett Mentors," said Bush.
Pinney lauded the support international students receive from Wass, who oversees international recruitment for the College.
"We had a lot of emails and she answered all of my questions," Pinney said of the international recruitment process. "She was so knowledgeable, and I felt if I came here, I would feel welcome. She was a big reason why I came here."
"We're extremely pleased to have a growing international student population," said Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College's president. "These students enrich and enhance our College community."
