Shippensburg University’s 2021 International Education Week was celebrated this past week with various events highlighting different cultures. 

The International Flag Display, which was presented from Monday, Oct. 25, to Saturday, Oct. 30, in the quad was created by Sean Cornell, associate professor of geography/earth science. The flag display was a collaboration with the fifth grade class at Grace B. Luhrs Elementary School, who got to hang the flags every morning.  

The flags hung represented all the nations in which students, staff and faculty of Shippensburg University originated from. The flag display was sponsored by the Department of International Studies and International Programs. 

Another display that was presented the entire week was the Día de los Muertos altars in the lower lobby of the Lehman Library. The altars were created by students from History of Mexico class (HIS 360) taught by Gretchen Pierce, associate professor of history. Día de los Muertos is a holiday celebrated in Mexico, parts of the United States, and other Latin American countries from Nov. 1–2. 

During this holiday, family members place food, drinks, religious symbols and brightly colored skulls on altars to remember loved ones who passed away. 

Other celebrations included an International Flag Discussion on Oct. 25, which was hosted on Zoom by Cornell. They discussed the meaning of the flags on the quad and how they represent the diverse nations where students, staff and faculty originate. 

On Oct. 26, there was an International Foods Lunch Celebration from 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Reisner Dining Hall hosted by Shippensburg University Dining Services. Students were able to sample ethnic foods from Italy, India, Asia, Africa and America. 

Also, the Department of Global Languages and Cultures hosted an Immersion Afternoon from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the Ceddia Union Building where students spent time experiencing world cultures, languages and foods from different countries. The event offered World Languages Karaoke from and Trivia from as well. 

On Oct. 27, the Department of International Studies and the Career, Mentoring and Professional Development Center hosted an informational Corps Prep Presentation on Zoom at which students got to learn about the process of applying to the Peace Corps and the benefits of serving. 

On Oct. 28, the Career, Mentoring and Professional Development Center hosted “Going Global; Working Internationally” on Zoom. Students learned about the advantages of working internationally and how to build partnerships as well as personal networks across the world. 

The planning for International Education Week was put together by various departments at Shippensburg University including the Career, Mentoring and Professional Development Center (Victoria Buchbauer), the Department of Global Languages and Cultures (Blandine Mitaut, Ana Moraña, Jose Ricardo, and David Wildermuth), the Departments of History/International Studies (Jonathon Skaff), the Department of Political Science (Mark Sachleben), the Department of History (Gretchen Pierce), the Geography & Earth Sciences Department (Sean Cornell), and the International Programs Office (Mary Burnett).

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