By: Tyla Matthews | Staff Writer
International Students who attended the cording ceremony in the West Room. Photograph by Caroline Gerke.
For the first time in the university’s history, international students at the University of Lynchburg were celebrated with a cording ceremony of their own.
The Office of International Student Support hosted its international graduate recognition ceremony on Monday, honoring 21 students from 13 different countries. The intimate gathering in the West Room brought together graduates, faculty, staff, and university leadership for what Ngun Sui Zing, Director of International Student Support, hopes will become an annual tradition.
“I want to make this our first tradition,” Zing said. “We never had a solid international office here on campus, so this will be our first time to make it a historic moment.”
Each graduate received an international cord to wear during commencement, alongside their regalia, from a mentor of their choosing.
Among those honored was Soliyana Atnafu, from Ethiopia, who arrived as a shy freshman who nearly transferred to be closer to family. Four years later, she serves as president of the Student Government Association and on the presidential search committee that recently selected Dr. Sally Coleman Selden.
“I didn’t think I would graduate from this university,” Atnafu said. “But I stayed, and I was like, I love this place.”
Zing said she hopes Dr. Selden will open more academic doors for international students and encourage domestic students to study abroad.
“Now we have internationals on campus, you get to know them, and if you create more opportunities, you understand more what it feels like to be in a different country,” Zing said.
Saar Prins, who came from the Netherlands at 17 years old, intending only a gap year, left having played field hockey, served as vice president of finance for her sorority, Alpha Sigma Alpha and sat on the student judicial board.
“The University of Lynchburg didn’t just give me an education,” Prins said. “It gave me perspective.”
Students interested in learning more about international student resources and support at the University of Lynchburg can visit https://www.lynchburg.edu/student-life/belonging/international-student-support/
