The kick-off for this year’s International Education Week (IEW) at Randolph-Macon College brought together students, faculty and staff through fashion, dance, and music. The International Dance and Fashion Showcase, held November 14, 2016, was organized by Tran Tran ’19, Abigail Kasko ’17, and Jenny Jeu ’17.

The lively event, held in Brock Commons, was sponsored by the International Interest Group (IIG) in conjunction with the Office of International Education (OIE). This year’s International Education Week theme was “Celebrating Diversity: Expanding Community, Strengthening Connections.” Participants, many in costume, danced the night away during the International Dance and Fashion Showcase, which is one of IEW’s most popular events.

Photos: International Dance and Fashion Showcase

In Step with Global Connections
Tran, Kasko and Jeu are all members of IIG. Tran (vice president of IIG and a native of Viet Nam), Kasko (IIG secretary and publicity chair) and Jeu (president of IIG), worked with fellow IIG members to make the International Dance and Fashion Showcase a fun, festive evening.

Jeu, a chemistry major and accounting minor, says, “We had a lot of help from our IIG members and from students who are members of RMC’s Diversity Council. IIG members did a fantastic job with preparing performances, finding traditional outfits and spreading the word about the event. And it was clear that students put a lot of work into their performances.” Participants also shared with the audience information about their cultures, from traditional foods to customs.

IIG
The International Interest Group’s purpose is to create awareness about and appreciation of the diversity of RMC’s campus.

“IIG is a terrific resource for our students,” says Mayumi Nakamura, assistant director of the Office of International Education. “IIG students provide the RMC community with an accessible tool for mutual understanding, and we are so proud of them. They are inspirational and dedicated individuals—and future leaders.”