Fourth Annual Governor's International Student Day Held Today

By Scanews staff

	Nearly 400 international students from 28 universities and colleges from across the state took part in the Fourth Annual Governor's International Day, held today (November 1) at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City. The Missouri Department of Economic Development and its Office of International Marketing, the Missouri Education Committee and the Missouri Department of Agriculture hosted the event.

	International Student Day provides students with the opportunity to network and celebrate their diversity. Students also attended an educational seminar Friday morning and toured the State Capitol and Governor's Mansion during the afternoon. 

	Governor Bob Holden addressed the students during the luncheon. He thanked them for choosing to pursue their studies in Missouri and called their presence "invaluable" because of the diversity and culture they share with Missourians.

	"Those relationships you are developing here will soon become critical in Missouri's ability to cultivate new business, academic and cultural alliances in the future," Holden told the students. "We fully understand that all of you are important to Missouri's future economic growth, as well as the well-being of your own countries, because many of you will become ‘ambassadors' who will one day help us build reciprocal globalization opportunities for a strong future."

	Holden recognized nine international students for their contributions to their communities and their universities. They are: Federico Waitoller, Columbia College, Columbia; Gulherme Lima, Lindenwood University, St. Charles; Steven Poirier, Logan College of Chiropractic, Chesterfield; Evgeniy Maslov, Missouri Southern State College, Joplin; Mario Perez, Rockhurst University, Kansas City; Venus Armendia, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg; Nadhiya Ita,  Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield; Vishal Kurup, University of Missouri-Kansas City; and Irana L. Stoyanova, Westminster College, Fulton. 

	One of the students, Venus Armendia, represented the students and spoke about her experiences as an international student. 
 
	Other speakers at the luncheon included Peter Hofherr, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture, and Joseph L. Driskill, director of the Department of Economic Development. David Schlotzhauer, vice-president of People to People International delivered the keynote address. 

	"These international students represent a valuable investment in our future," Driskill said. "We believe Missouri is a much better place because of the influence of these students. All of us benefit from their new ideas, culture and diversity."

	International Student Day was sponsored by the Hawthorn Foundation, Maryville University, Saint Louis University, Webster University, Washington University Medical Center-St.Louis, Miller & Company P.C., Elisha Technologies, Par-Way Tryson Company, Missouri Association of Realtors and Maritz Inc.