Press Releases for International Events in AY 2011-12

Public is Invited to Fifth Annual International Festival at Motlow LYNCHBURG — November 9, 2011

November is International Month at Motlow College and the Moore County campus is busy preparing for its fifth annual International Festival. The festival will take place November 16, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Marcum Technology Center. The public is invited and there is no admission charge.

With students from more than 30 countries, college departments are celebrating Motlow’s diversity by showcasing different countries. Jeannie Brown, coordinator of international education at Motlow said, “This year’s festival will be our biggest and best ever! We will have 27 different booths, which is more than we’ve ever had. Departments and classes at Motlow have their doors and hallways decorated and ready for the celebration. When all of those displays come together on the day of the festival it will be amazing.”

Mr. D.K. Wu from the ChinaNOW Institute of International Education in Shanghai, China will be on campus to speak to students in the classroom, participate in the festival and offer scholarships to Motlow students for China summer programs. Current Motlow students or those recently graduated and attending a university are eligible to apply for two different programs offered in the 2012 summer session.

Entertainment for the event will include music from the band, Slip Jig, of Huntsville, Ala. They will perform traditional music of Ireland, Scotland, and other Celtic lands during the festival and have a special concert that evening for the public. The free concert will be held in Powers Auditorium of Eoff Hall at 7 p.m.

The Study Abroad program at Motlow, offered through the Tennessee Consortium of International Studies (TNCIS), will have information available for students to learn more about opportunities and scholarships available. There are currently available courses of study in 18 different countries.

For additional information about international education visit the College website <www.mscc.edu/int_international> and for additional information about ChinaNOW Institute of International Education visit <www.schoolchinanow.com>.

TBR Newsletter Submission, November 2011 Motlow College Focuses on International Education

November is International Month at Motlow College. Motlow’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) is ‘Internationalizing the Curriculum – Improving Student Learning through International Education: Preparing Students for Success in a Global Society.’ In addition to international modules being taught and assessed in courses across the curriculum, all Motlow centers are hosting an International Festival that features native food, music and cultural examples.

With students from more than 30 countries, college departments are celebrating diversity by showcasing different countries. Offices are decorated to reflect the varying cultures and customs to give Motlow students, faculty and staff a miniature “trip around the world.”

Fayetteville Center Festival LYNCHBURG — December 20, 2011

Motlow student Tori Scott was a member of the winning team for their booth representing the country of Mexico during the International Festival at the Fayetteville Center.

McMinnville Center FestivalLYNCHBURG — December 20, 2011

Motlow students, faculty and staff experienced a trip around the world during the College’s International Festivals at each center.

Motlow College Goes International LYNCHBURG — December 20, 2011

Motlow College recently experienced a whirlwind trip around the world as all four locations hosted international festivals. With students from more than 30 countries, the college departments in Moore County, Smyrna, Fayetteville and McMinnville celebrated Motlow’s diversity by showcasing the many different cultures. Prior to the festivals, doors and hallways were decorated to depict the country to be represented by each department.

Motlow’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) is internationalizing the curriculum and improving student learning through international education. All human senses were engaged with the international festivals as students, faculty and staff shared native food, music and cultural examples of their chosen country. The students were exposed to different cultures in the classroom with visiting speakers, presenters and through special assignments.

Jeannie Brown, coordinator of international education at Motlow said, “This year’s festivals have surpassed any that we’ve ever hosted. I think each center surprised itself with the level of participation, decorations, and food.” She continued, “Several students proudly participated either in a booth representing their home country or one where they had studied the culture and were anxious to share with others.”

The Smyrna Center offered international pastries and candies for students to sample throughout the week of the festival. They sponsored flag coloring and photo identification contests for prizes. The center also featured “The Poetry of Scotland,” a special presentation performed by a native of that country. The nursing faculty won the door contest with their representation of Belize.

Motlow in McMinnville hosted 16 booths with over 150 people participating. The band, Trio Ginga played Latin music for festival goers. Prizes were given in several categories including most authentic food, decorations and clothing. Student door prize winners included Rachel Hiner, Kacey Smith, Noah Medley and Ashley Argo.

Moore County’s festival featured more than 27 booths and hundreds of visitors. The Business and Technology department won the door decoration contest for the country of Mexico. The Motlow Bookstore represented Belgium with a flowing chocolate machine and a local jeweler displaying Belgium diamonds. Student Elsa Dohrmann assisted with the representation of Ethiopia, her birthplace. She wrote name translations in her native language, Amharic, for all who visited the booth.

The Fayetteville festival featured 12 different countries. Community participation featured a native of Jamaica preparing authentic Jamaican food and answering questions about his homeland. The booth depicting Mexico won first place honors for the event. The team creating the south of the border experience represented fulltime faculty, adjunct faculty, administration and a student, Tori Scott.

Entertainment for the Moore County and Fayetteville festivals included music from the band, Slip Jig, of Huntsville, Ala. They performed traditional music of Ireland, Scotland, and other Celtic lands during the festivals and gave a special evening concert for the public.

International guest speaker, Mr. D.K. Wu from the ChinaNOW Institute of International Education in Shanghai, China spoke to students in the classroom, participated in the festival and offered two scholarships to Motlow students for China summer programs.

Visit the College website <www.mscc.edu> for additional information about international education at Motlow.

Smyrna Center Festival LYNCHBURG — December 20, 2011

Nathan Sweeton, right, an English instructor at Motlow’s Smyrna Center, shares knowledge of the country he is representing during the College’s International Festival.

Zili Misik Brings New World Soul Music to Motlow CollegeLYNCHBURG — March 16, 2012

Eoff Hall on Motlow’s Moore County campus will come alive with sound next Tuesday and Wednesday when the College welcomes Boston musical group Zili Misik for two live concerts, open to the public, with no admission charge. The 7-piece, all-female band will perform on March 20, in an evening concert at 7:30 p.m. and a second performance the next morning at 11 a.m.

Zili Misik has garnered national recognition for blending reggae, samba, soul and jazz to produce a truly original musical experience. They present a multicultural amalgam of rhythms, styles, and themes. The band appears as part of Motlow’s Quality Enhancement Plan, a campus-wide initiative to improve student learning through culturally diverse activities. Multi-instrumentalist and ethnomusicologist, Kera M. Washington, founded Zili Misik 11 years ago. A skilled percussionist and gifted singer, Washington can move smoothly between melodic singing, vocal chants, and spoken word. Washington and the group credit “Craigslist” and Berklee College of Music for bringing for bringing keyboardist Kana Dehara, guitarist Lexi Havlin, saxphonist Joy Roster, trombonist Stephanie Baird, vocalist Chashe Musarurwa, bassist Joanna Maria, and drummer Jobeth Umali, to Zili Misik.

The women of this group trace their roots to five countries and three continents and have been bridging cultures, generations, and continents for more than a decade. Zili takes its name from Haitian spiritual entity, “Ezili” who is envisaged as mother, lover and warrior. Zili’s songs are sensual, political, self-reflective, positive and provoke love. Zili Misik honors its influences while forging a new direction, a style they call New World Soul. Powerful Haitian, Brazilian and West African rhythms drive Zili Misik’s original creations and act as the backbone of their traditional folksongs.

Committed to giving back, Zili Misik collects donated musical instruments for a school in Mirebalais, Haiti through “Project Misik.” In 2010, Zili Misik received a Commendation from the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for their continued fundraising efforts on behalf of the survivors of the earthquake in Haiti. Visit the group’s website <www.zilimisik.com> for more information about their latest musical releases and touring schedule. Visit the College website <www.mscc.edu> for additional information about Motlow.

Motlow Hosts Multi-Cultural Event Smyrna LYNCHBURG — April 17, 2012

Moneda Grimes, second from right, assistant professor of sociology at Motlow College, recently brought her sociology students and members of the community together for an event called “Celebrating Diversity” at the Smyrna Town Centre. At least a dozen countries were represented with differences in cultures showcased through food, dress, presentations and discussions. Social issues discussed included: career, education, government, crime, punishment, marriage, family and entertainment. A sampling of the countries participating and Motlow students attending, from left, are Helen German representing England; Nashawn Brown, student; Ivan Barrantes with daughter, Balerie, representing Costa Rica; Ozal Sinjo representing Kurdistan; a community representative of Burma; Chelsea Meadors, Semon Ross, and Elizabeth Cobb, students (standing in front of Semon); Jose Felipe Thorndike and wife Blanca (wearing hats) representing Peru; Rosa Mina representing Mexico; Grimes, and Hamid Aldaraji representing Iraq. Sarah Mussey who represented Ghana is not pictured. According to Grimes, “The event provides a wonderful opportunity for Motlow students to learn about our international neighbors. Diversity truly is ‘the spice of life’.”

TBR Newsletter Submission, November 2011 Students Experience the World with International Curriculum at Motlow

Motlow College has integrated international learning throughout the curriculum. Students are exposed to subjects with levels of diversity they never dreamed possible because of the College’s initiative. In a variety of courses, students are given the opportunity to embark on the study of the subject as well as gain an understanding of how it is understood or affected by other countries and cultures around the world.

Student Michelle St. John of Morrison signed up for theatre appreciation because she needed a fine art class and enjoyed the discussion-based setting of an honors course. The class was divided into groups and hers was studying Henrik Ibsen’s play, “A Doll House.” Her responsibility in the project was to create a model of The Royal Danish Theatre in Denmark where the play debuted in 1879.

St. John said, “I had no idea how much work and detail would go into the project and after all of the frustration and hard work, it wound up looking amazing! I am proud of the theatre because of the likeness it has to the real Royal Danish Theatre. I researched and carried out the details of the bench-like seating on the inside while making the outside of the theatre into an exact likeness of the real thing.”

She added, “Another bonus to the class was not only did I learn about the play and country we focused on, but I also learned interesting facts about other countries and theatres that were presented.”

St. John said, “If it wasn’t for my theatre class I would have never gone to a professional play or have learned anything about various foreign theatres.” She also pointed out, “In addition to the theatre class, I have enjoyed other classes at Motlow that included international course assignments in economics and accounting.”

International group projects were also assigned in microbiology courses. Students researched microorganisms that can be contracted in countries outside of the United States. Lauren Collins of Murfreesboro pointed out that the average American citizen doesn’t have to worry about contracting many of the microorganisms because of the availability of sewage systems, vaccinations, and health habits in the U.S.

According to Kristy Crosslin of Cannon County, “I have learned so many things in this class that will

help me when I travel from now on.” Crosslin goes on missionary trips with her church and says after taking the class, “I have learned preventive measures I will practice in the future like taking mosquito nets, repellant and I will always… always wear my shoes.”

All members of the group agreed that learning about internationally contracted microorganisms was as eye-opener. Group member Divin Haggard said, “I am going into nursing and learning some of the symptoms, treatment and prevention of these diseases will be good for me to know in the future.”

The international module for Ann Smotherman’s art appreciation class focused on the Spanish culture by studying two of Mexico’s most famous artists, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Although they were husband and wife, they had completely different styles and their work is said to have revolutionized the world of art.

The history of the on-again, off-again relationship of the couple began in Mexico where they married during a time of political unrest. Rivera’s artwork expanded to the U.S., taking them to San Francisco, New York, Detroit and eventually back to Mexico.

The influence of living in America was evident in their work and relationship as Kahlo painted the first of her many self-portraits after losing a child in a country that she hated. In 1932 her painting, ‘Miscarriage in Detroit’ would be the first of many paintings that would make her a star in the artistic world.

Smotherman said, “When I first starting teaching this class, I wondered how I would grade the students’ work; I could not grade it as studio art. The students were to make a visual presentation or collage and they are not art students, this is art appreciation.” She surmised, “I was, and have been, amazed at the products turned in at the end of each class. They are all so good and they seem to reflect that the students understood the cultural differences.”

In addition to integrating international modules throughout the curriculum, Motlow College has also provided multicultural learning opportunities outside the classroom. In the past few years, the College has hosted a variety of international speakers and performers. Annual international festivals have been hosted at all Motlow locations featuring cultural examples of music, videos, items, attire and native cuisine. Dozens of countries and cultures have been represented to give students, faculty and staff a miniature “trip around the world.”