【時報訊】聖路易芳邦大學校長Dennis Golden博士夫婦9月23日(週四)下午五時半，在校長官邸以晚宴親自接待本學年度來自世界26個國家71位新生。Golden校長夫婦就像大家長一樣對同學們照顧有加，勉勵同學把握機會，展開全方位學習。所有國際新生同學並以各國國旗為標識，分組在校長官邸前合影，最後並與校長夫婦、所有國際教育部門教職員及應邀前來歡迎新生，也是台灣真理大學校友之聖路易時報發行人謝秀雲女士合影。
今年新生中最特別的一位就是芳邦大學已故在台董事劉煥忠(Jack Liu)的女兒劉庭妏(Isabella Liu)。劉煥忠教授是國立台灣藝術大學教授，為美國俄亥俄州Bowling Green大學及Toledo大學兩校聯合媒體科技博士班畢業，獲有電視、電影博士學位。劉煥忠教授曾任國立藝專電影科主任，參與台灣電影輔導金制度制定，亞太媒體中心籌設，並曾擔任行政院新聞顧問，對台灣電影、電視媒體藝術貢獻良多，是芳邦大學唯一一位在台董事，不幸於2008年9月30日晚間，因心肌梗塞驟然辭世，正值壯年60歲，劉教授的辭世，包括台灣教育界、台灣藝術大學所有師生及美國芳邦大學所有認識劉教授的師生友人都感到至為惋惜。
劉庭妏還小的時候曾經和父母親劉煥忠教授夫婦和弟弟來過聖路易，參訪芳邦大學並在Golden校長官邸作客。當時受到Golden校長夫婦和全校師長及董事會之熱烈歡迎和喜愛。2006年劉煥忠教授夫婦再度訪問聖路易，參加芳邦大學董事會議並接受聖路易時報專訪。
如今2010年，劉煥忠教授女兒劉庭妏長大了，落落大方、彬彬有禮、氣質出眾，來到芳邦大學企管碩士班就讀，並參加Golden校長在官邸的迎新會。Golden校長對劉庭妏有著深厚的關愛情誼，一再表示感念劉煥忠教授對芳邦大學的貢獻，更歡迎劉庭妏的到來。
應聖路易時報之邀，在台灣以英文寫作見長的劉庭妏同學特別為時報撰寫了一篇芳邦大學Golden校長官邸迎新之新聞報導，刊登在時報本期英文版，有女長成，劉煥忠教授地下有知一定感到十芳邦大學分的安慰。
Fontbonne University's Evening of Many Languages: The International Student Reception
By Isabella Liu
On Thursday, September 23rd Fontbonne University hosted its annual International Student Reception at Wydown House, the home of President Dr. Dennis Golden and his wife, Monica. Over 50 international students dressed in fashionably formal attire attended to meet and greet their professors and faculty members.
Along with the Office of International Student Affairs, the relaxed reception invites new international students to the President's house as a welcoming gesture to both the United States and the University. On that night, students from China, Estonia, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Venezuela and Vietnam represented their nations. Students were able to introduce themselves to President Golden and Mrs. Golden, and mingle with other international students.
Representatives from the Office of International Student Affairs including Director Rebecca Bahan, Assistant Director Ryan Saale and Administrative Assistant Linda Venegoni were enthusiastically helping the students to take plenty of pictures to document the evening of friendly socialization. Orientation leaders, those who helped to organize international student orientation, also attended. For many students, however, it was meeting President Golden that really made the evening special.
"I felt very honored and excited to meet President Golden," says Lucas Chuang, a Masters of Business Administration graduate student from Taiwan. "It was like meeting the President of the United States." He also noted how personable President Golden was. "He feels like my new father here."Lucas was one of the many students who remarked upon 'friendliness' and 'family' feeling of the atmosphere. Friendship, family, community and harmony were the themes of the evening.
"It didn't feel like a formal reception," says Liina Toomla, an international student from Estonia who is currently studying Computer Science. "It felt like a family gathering together. I really loved how everyone seemed to have so much fun meeting new people, and seeing President Golden really investing his time into welcoming every single one of us was really lovely."
Another student, Toan Vu, from Vietnam studying Biology, really enjoyed the night, saying that he felt Fontbonne was home to "...many friendly people. I feel like this place is my new 'family.'"
There are currently over 160 international students in the university, with most enrolled in the MBA Program. Overall, there are 27 nations including Anguilla, France, Germany, Mexico, Nepal and Peru represented in the current student body.
At the end of the evening during the large group photograph, President Golden firmly asserted that the world was meant to resemble the group gathered on the steps.
"If you don't learn anything while you're in school, at least learn this: the world is supposed to be like this, like a big family, without borders," said President Golden. "Seeing you here gives me hope and gives the world hope. I warmly welcome you into our family and hope that your time here shows you that you can truly learn more and be more."
Students left feeling appreciated, loved, and most importantly, excited for the rest of the school year. The success of the evening culminated into many friendships and stronger relationships between students and teachers. For most, it was truly a testimony to how Fontbonne University prides itself on being the 'home away from home'; not just for national students, but those far away from home.
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