OBU Grant Center to host IFF 2023

BY EMMA DONLEY Staff Writer

One hundred years ago, Ouachita welcomed Charles Pong, an international student from China, onto the campus and began a legacy of inviting students from around the world to participate in a Christian education. This year, the annual International Food Festival will be a chance for the entire campus to get together and celebrate that legacy.

and excitement from classmates, school faculty and previous titleholders as she was crowned.

“It was a shock for me to have my dream become a reality,”

Shourd said “I always wanted to represent Ouachita. When I first came here, I had Caroline Derby as my WOW leader. I saw how well she led, and it made me realize how much this title meant.”

For many years, Shourd has observed the women who have held the title of Miss OBU. “I know and have witnessed several of the former Miss OBU titleholders like Tiffany Lee, Caroline Derby and Kaelin Clay who have had this title and graced it so well,” Shourd said. “I am so honored to be a part of this community of women. They are such a light with their joy, and they reflect Christ in the way that they live and do things at Ouachita. That is something I hope to do with this role as well.”

Shourd’s job does not just start when she walks on the Miss Arkansas stage in June. She will be representing the school every day, and she seeks to make an impact starting on campus.

“I believe I am a very personable person,” Shourd said. “With this title, I feel like I will be able to start up more conversations. My platform is Champions for Childhood Cancer Awareness. There are several ways on campus where I hope I will be able to get people connected, so they can make an impact with my platform.”

Shourd added, “I have already gotten an overwhelming amount of love and support. To me, it is the coolest thing to feel acknowledged by your classmates. It will be so rewarding to have people actually see the work I am doing for my platform and understand what it is all about.”

Along with promoting her platform, she seeks to also be a light for students. “I hope to be open for anyone to communicate with and be a welcoming presence,” Shourd said. “As a freshman, I always tried to be open to new people and speak to anyone I passed. Now, with this role, it opens the doors, so I can speak to everyone and show what Ouachita is all about.”

Shourd will compete in Miss Arkansas this summer. Shourd notes, “Even at state, there is a ‘Ouachita difference.’ I truly can’t wait to be the ‘Ouachita difference’ everyone notices this summer.”

Ouachita’s IFF is a yearly event hosted by the Grant Center for International Education where students and faculty get the opportunity to cook and share dishes from around the world with the student body. This event will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 5:30 p.m.

Jason Greenwich, director of the Grant Center for International Education, explains the importance of IFF.

“One day a year, it highlights our international program,” Greenwich said. “That means a lot not only to the Grant Center for International Education but more importantly, it means a lot to our international and third culture students.”

Nineteen students have been hand selected to lead this event and organize the different dishes. Students coordinate contributions from fellow students, faculty and staff, Sodexo and restaurants to ensure a great experience for all. They have been preparing since December for this event. Yu Chan Jeong, a junior from Indonesia, and Maria Urbina, a senior from Honduras are the student directors this year.

Urbina explains how the International Food Festival makes international and third culture students feel welcome on campus.

“IFF is like OBU saying they appreciate us,” Urbina said. “It’s like them saying, ‘We are willing to get out of our comfort zone and try food that we have never even heard of just because we love you, and we appreciate you being here.’”

Urbina places a great emphasis on the power of food and what it means to her and her culture.

“For me, that’s how I show love,” Urbina said. “I love it when people are open-minded and want to try my food.”

This year, the theme of the event, Celebrating One Hundred Years of International Education, is at the forefront of the minds of those involved. “One hundred years is a big accomplishment,” Jeong said. “ I feel a sense of pride that Ouachita cares about internationals and wants us to be here.”

Isabella Bejarano, a junior from Columbia, shares why she believes students should come to IFF. “A lot of people have never gone out of their state or country,” Bejarano said.“Being able to travel the world in one day by trying these foods is a way that we also want to serve our campus.” She added, “The best way to make international students feel loved and appreciated is by coming and supporting them.”

Aksa Mathew, a freshman from Kuwait, will be making Chicken Biriyani from India, where her family is from, and is excited to share her dish this Tuesday.

“We are sharing our memories and our culture with others,” Mathew said. “We are sharing our home.”

There are typically around 50 dishes served at IFF, and the price of admission is $5. “I could not be more encouraging of students just to come,” Greenwich said. “Why would you miss out on an opportunity like this? The world has come to you at Ouachita. It’s the most they’re going to get for $5.”