Above / Youngsters in colorful costumes provide the entertainment during the annual festival held annually at Merner Field House to celebrate many cultures that have connected in Naperville. (PN File Photo)
UPDATE Feb. 9, 2017 / When North Central College hosts its annual International Festival on Feb. 26, people from the community and around the world will come together to celebrate and experience cultural diversity.
“It’s so much fun and I’d never miss it,” notes My Nguyen, an international student from Hanoi, Vietnam, who’s set to graduate from North Central College this June. She’s among the 50 student volunteers who run the festival each year along with the College’s Center for Global Education.
Throughout the day, from noon to 4PM on Sunday, Feb. 26, the festival will feature traditional dances and performances from China, Germany, India, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Bulgaria.
Some 20 educational booths will represent local organizations and college student clubs, and North Central’s international students will oversee language immersion rooms in Arabic, German, Japanese and Spanish, giving children and families opportunities to explore a different language.
Festival supports scholarships for international & study-abroad students
Nguyen, who speaks English, Vietnamese and Spanish, will be among the international students serving at the International Festival. She’s also a beneficiary of the proceeds from admission to the festival, which support scholarships for international and study abroad students at North Central College.
In her third year at North Central, Nguyen is majoring in international business and sociology with a minor in social change leadership. She’s been an active member of the College’s International Club, an ambassador in the Student Alumni Association, and studied abroad in Ghana, Africa. Nguyen was offered scholarships by many different U.S. colleges and universities, but the personal attention and scholarships she received from North Central College won her over.
“Coming to a new country where everything is so different, then having that personal touch and an admission counselor who was so helpful made the difference for me,” says Nguyen. “I cherish my whole experience at North Central and have met people from all over the world. I’ve attended every single event the College has held and made wonderful friends. It’s become my home.” After she graduates from North Central, Nguyen hopes to attend graduate school and has applied to Optional Practical Training (OPT), a program for international students to work part time in the United States.
Update submitted by Nancy Dunker, Associate Director of Public Relations, for North Central College.
Original Post Jan. 13, 2017 / Looking for something fun and educational for the family to do on a wintry Sunday in February?
Experience the 21st Annual International Festival, “ Around the Corner, Around the World,” at Merner Field House, 450 South Brainard St., from noon to 4PM, Sun., Feb. 26, 2017. (Save the date, noting the festival is two weeks later in February this year.)
Founded in 1996 by the International Committee of Naperville’ s YMCA, the festival has continued to fulfill its original mission to highlight and celebrate the cultural diversity of the Naperville community.
Above / Youngsters representing cultures from many corners of the world will share folk dancing and music during the 21st Annual International Festival. (PN File Photo)
Get a taste of international education, dance, language immersion & concessions
After taking over the sponsorship of the festival, North Central College’ s Center for Global Education has kept audiences returning every year to enjoy four major activities: 1) educational booths, 2) dance performances and demonstrations, 3) language immersion rooms, and 3) and international lunch concessions.
This year, the festival will feature traditional dances from China, Germany, India, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Spain. More than 20 educational booths will represent local organizations, and the College’ s international students will welcome children and families to join them in 30-minute cultural and language immersion rooms, conducted entirely in Arabic, German, Japanese, and Spanish.
All festival participants receive passports that children get stamped at each booth, where families are engaged in educational conversations and activities. International refreshments will be provided by Belgio’ s Catering.
US Bank, Meijer, and KIE International Travel are the generous sponsors of this year’s festival. Sometimes called “Naperville’ s EPCOT” by previous festival participants, the festival promises to offer one more opportunity, this year, for community members to learn about, appreciate, and celebrate the mosaic of cultures in the area.
Admission is $6 at the door; $5 tickets may be purchased in advance through the North Central College Center for Global Education (48 East Jefferson Ave.)
Merner Field House is located at 450 South Brainard St. on the campus of North Central College, just off Chicago Ave.
For more information, contact Rebecca Pugh at (630) 637-5132 or rjpugh@noctrl.edu . All proceeds benefit scholarships for international and study abroad students at North Central College.
Story submitted by Rebecca Pugh, International Festival Coordinator, for the Center for Global Education & Leadership, Ethics and Values, at North Central College.
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