Vol. 30 • 2020 Events • Published April 2021
Contents 4
From the Desk of Former Director and International Programs Staff
10
Congratulations International Students and Study Abroad Students Receive Scholarships Fifty-five International Students Graduate
14
Donor Profile Rugena Hall
15
International Scholars Campus welcomes new international faculty
16
Cover Art by B. Drager
22
Features Sixty-eight Years of AFS in Topeka U.S. – China Youth Ambassadors in Topeka
26
Phi Beta Delta Retirements Alumni Four international educators retire after distinguished careers
19
Study Abroad Returnees share personal accounts New International Partnership formed
28
Other News 30
In Memory Three devoted friends of International Programs remembered
Office of International Programs Staff
Kelly McClendon, Coordinator & Lecturer – Intensive English Heidi Staerkel, Coordinator – International Student & Scholar Services Michala Stokes, International Student Advisor Dr. Andy Vogel , Coordinator – International Student Recruitment & Retention Tina Williams, Coordinator – Study Abroad Baili Zhang, Director 2 | International Accents Magazine
From the President What a year! We have just lived through one of the most unique and unusual set of circumstances with the pandemic. I am so proud of the staff in the International Programs Office. They were creative and resilient in finding ways to manage all of the challenges they faced. They supported our students with all kind of issues - with visas, academically, and personally. It is so important that our international students feel welcomed and were able to complete their courses or degrees. We are committed to international education. It enriches the campus experience and allows students to learn from one another, side by side. The relationships with other universities date back over forty years with Fukuoka. Wow, that is a long time! It has been great for them and for Washburn. We have continued to foster these relationships and anticipate many more years of opportunities for students.
Jerry Farley, Ph.D., President
We are looking forward to students coming to campus and to study abroad resuming.
From the Director I am pleased and proud to present to you the 2020 issue of our newsletter – Washburn’s International’s Accents, which reported events that occurred in 2020. Simply put, 2020 was a year like no other in recent history. The global pandemic upended nearly every profession and affected everybody. International education was among the hardest hit areas. In fact, according to a report recently released by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in August 2020, there was a 91% decrease in new (F-1 visa) international Baili Zhang, Director student enrollment compared to the previous year. We here at Washburn certainly felt International Programs this precipitous and devastating impact. As a result of the virus’ aggressive spread and subsequent world-wide travel restrictions, our international student enrollment took a sharp decline and our faculty and student international travels came to a screeching halt. Yet, we have bright spots: Our students hunkered down and stayed focused; they overcame all sorts of impediments and carried on their study programs both in person and virtually. Our staff adapted to the unknown terrain, took on new challenges, and worked creatively to continue good overall services and provide individualized support. Among the things accomplished this past year, I am most proud of the fifty-five students representing fifteen different countries, who persevered and graduated, some with high honors. This is one of our biggest international student graduating classes on record! These new Ichabods are the true stars; they are our inspiration! Yes, we are still digging out and picking up pieces. But we have deep roots, and we are resilient. Together and with your kind support, we will bounce back stronger. We must keep promoting international education because it is vital to combat prejudice, reduce ignorance, enhance global understanding, and stimulate world peace. International Accents Magazine | 3
From the Desk of Bill Wagnon, Ph.D.
former Director of International Center Dear Baili, I read your new slick newsletter and was thrilled at the scope of international activity that is occurring at Washburn. Miss Helen Hocker, as am I, would be thrilled to know the extent of international engagement currently. It’s a far cry from 1980 when Miss Hocker recruited me to manage the new ICT, evolving into international programs at the university. She was then head of the physical education department and had been Washburn’s first Fulbright Scholar, sometime in the 1950s. She and her friends began the Christmas International Fair to raise money for programs. She had browbeat President Henderson to support the initiative, getting the house for program use. I came on board just as the Fukuoka exchange was beginning. We had then one student exchange with the University of Copenhagen for a semester general studies program. There was also a business exchange with an European school I now have forgotten. We were sending students abroad, rather than getting foreign students. There had been in the late 50 some Koreans who came to Washburn for study. The whole package was pretty loosely run. The few foreign students we had were managed by Student Affairs. But then you have to remember that in 1980 the amount of foreign trade for the US was only about 5% of the GNP and the whole idea of global development was only partially understood. I managed the Copenhagen and Fukuoka programs and began a yearly program called “America in the World Today” to call attention to the global future. I started a Friday weekly Brown Bag series. We were able to have one Fulbright scholar from Mexico for year on a shoestring. When Bill Langdon took over in 1988, he began several foreign language programs. You and your staff have given the program a dynamic thrust as reflected in the multicolor newsletter in hand.
I came on board just as the Fukuoka exchange was beginning.
Photo by zero take on Unsplash.com 4 | International Accents Magazine
From the Desk of Heidi Staerkel, International Student Services Coordinator
It was late February 2020 and life in our office was busy but relatively predictable: Our 24 visiting Japanese students from Fukuoka University and Chiba University of Commerce were midway through their second week on campus, nervously preparing to spend the upcoming weekend with their local host families. I wouldn’t fully appreciate until later what a tremendous blessing it would be that our Fukuoka students were able to fly home on March 13, just as the world began shutting down due to a new virus by the name of COVID-19.
• Six of our BBA graduates applied for and were accepted into the MBA program, courageously choosing to continue their studies at WU during a global pandemic. • Our students and our office continued to receive exceptional, compassionate support from local community organizations such as FriendSpeak and the Topeka Friendship Network, from providing care packages of food to helping four students move out of their apartment and arranging a storage unit for their belongings. The students’ lease was expiring and they were unable to return to the U.S. due to the travel ban. • We weren’t sure that we’d have any new students due to the pandemic and US embassy closures, but in August 2020, we gratefully welcomed 13 brave, new students to our campus.
• In Spring 2020, our office welcomed students from two new exchange partnerships: Five Chinese Master of Education students from Shanghai International Studies University and three Paraguayan exchange students through the BECAL government scholarship program.
2020 made me even more grateful for my fellow colleagues in our office and at WU, as well as our colleagues working in the field of international education throughout the state, U.S. and world. The thoughtful, measured steps which our university administrators have taken to navigate the university through this uncharted and unprecedented time have been remarkable, and the resilience and determination of our students have absolutely blown me away. We’re so proud of all of them!
• We added three new videos (about the Business Office, Student One Stop and Ichabod Service Center) to our Desire2Learn/D2L on-line PreArrival Orientation for new students, helping them to be better prepared when arriving at WU.
Although the university – and world – will feel the ongoing impact of COVID-19 for a long time, it is comforting and encouraging to know that we’re truly all in this together and will continue to strive to achieve the best possible outcome.
Although the global pandemic has negatively impacted our lives and world in many ways, I’d like to focus on celebrating some much-needed bright spots during 2020:
Photo by Ji Seongkwang on Unsplash.com International Accents Magazine | 5
From the Desk of Tina Williams, M.S., ED, Study Abroad Coordinator
Welcome to the Study Abroad Virtual Office! As the landscape of international education has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WU Study Abroad has adjusted by providing new virtual spaces to share information, events and program options. To support student’s international education opportunities, WU worked with program providers to offer students innovative virtual programs. A number of students who had planned to travel abroad instead participated in these new programs and engaged in meaningful ways with instructors and students across the globe. We continue to monitor international travel and the state of the pandemic while providing support for students and faculty navigating study and travel in a new environment. The International Programs Scholarship Committee awarded scholarships to students participating in 2019 – 2020 studyabroad programs. Programs ranged in length from two weeks to an academic year. Included were the following Faculty-Led Washburn Transformational Experiences:
Fall 2019: Canada - International Leadership – Laura Edelman Winter 2020: Belize - Study Abroad in Belize – Judy McConnell-Farmer Costa Rica - Nursing Perspectives in Central America - Bobbe Mansfield & Crystal Stevens Chile - Live and Learn in Chile – Georgina Tenny Spring 2020: Cuba - Modern Cuba – Linsey Moddelmog
Study Abroad Virtual Office
https://bit.ly/2NO8jBH. Welcome!
To the WU Study Abroad Office. Click around to learn more.
Schedule a Virtual Advising Session
studyabroad@washburn.edu
6 | International Accents Magazine
From the Desk of Dr. Sangyoub Park,
President of ICT (International Center of Topeka) It has been over a year since our daily life was interrupted and disrupted by the Covid-19. We were simply stuck in the present and unable to plan ahead because of too much uncertainty and risk surrounding the Covid-19 over a year. However, with a growing glimmer of hope by a combination of rapidly decreasing Covid cases and increasing vaccination numbers, we are slowly but surely beginning to reclaim our time and the future. While the last semester the ICT (International Center of Topeka) was on hiatus, this semester we have actively began discussing how we can support international students and promote and celebrate diversity and inclusion in the community in the post-pandemic. So, when we have more international students and students begin their study abroad programs, we are ready to provide help they need. At the same time, we are exploring different ways to get engaged in the community. Although it is relatively slow, we are excited about planning the future. On the final note, while we have many students from Asian countries, we are deeply concerned and outraged about the rise of attacks and discrimination against Asians and Asian Americans over the recent years. The ICT wants to highlight that we stand with #StopAsianHate and support Asian and Asian American communities. We want you to know that you are not alone. We are all in this together. One of the things the Covid-19 pandemic taught us is that we should have a stronger community. We cannot be selfish but should be more collective for the greater good. And we must embrace everyone. Without a strong sense of community and belonging, we will all suffer from consequences. We are looking forward to support international students and promote and celebrate diverse cultures in the Topeka community again. While making your future plans, please include the ICT as well. Stay well and safe.
Non Nobis Solum
“Not for ourselves alone.” Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash International Accents Magazine | 7
From the Desk of Kelly McClendon, Coordinator of Intensive English
I’m sure you are wondering just how the pandemic has affected the Intensive English Program. We started off 2020 with 24 students. We welcomed our were quarantining from the travel - another success usual short-term exchange program with Fukuoka amidst difficulty. In the fall, classes were remote University and Chiba University of Commerce with our 13 students for the first two weeks until at the end of February. Twenty-four students all the new students finished participated and got back their mandatory travel to Japan just in time before quarantine. Then all classes flights and quarantine affected were held in-person socially them in adverse ways! After distanced until just before Spring Break, the university PLEASE KEEP Thanksgiving break. The went to remote instruction. semester ended remotely, but For our students, that meant 2M that had been planned out in that we met them at class advance. All of us learned time on Zoom. Class was various technologies and the conducted in that way the rest students again succeeded in of the semester. The students spite of barriers to language rose to the occasion and instruction. During this year, stayed engaged in learning long time instructor Mary Ann Wittman retired, English! Most of all, we all stayed safe. During the and one of our full-time instructors, Sarah Trumble, summer, a group of Japanese students usually do a who had taught in the program for 6 years, moved short-term program here on campus. The classes to Ohio. We miss them but have been able to carry began virtually and a few of them finally arrived on with wonderful adjuncts instructors, JiSoo in person. They attended classes virtually while they Abbuehl, Roger Laubengayer, Travis Lamb, Kelsey Huff, Tisha Sinclair, and Amy Quirin.
8 | International Accents Magazine
From the Desk of Dr. Andrew Vogel,
International Summer Institute at WU. A bright Coordinator of International spot of the year was we were able to host twenty-five Student Recruitment and students, but most had to partisipate on-line, with Retention only six students able to make it to campus after the US Embassy opened up in Japan. Many of the US This year (2020) started typically with a visit from 70 Embassies remained closed in countries around the AFS international students to Washburn University world, so students could not receive visas to travel for a weekend campus and city tour and overnight to WU to study. We are optimistic that this will soon stay in the countryside. Following this event was change and look forward to a boom of students that our fifth reciprocal exchange between local High have been patiently awaiting the pursuit of a degree School students and Quzhou #2 High School, which and higher education at Washburn University. One involved them visiting Topeka this time. However, other highlight of 2020 was that I completed my news then of a virus spreading in Wuhan, China, Ph.D. from Drake University in Education with an meant the trip had to be cut short by a couple of emphasis in international education and technology days. This would not be the last we heard of the and successfully defended my dissertation entitled virus. The international recruitment markets were “Exploring Second Generation Technological soon closed, and I saw trips to Japan and Nepal to Tools: International Student Service Providers Use meet new students and their families canceled in of Technology to Support International Students.” March. We continued to recruit virtually and held A special thanks to Dr. Farley, Baili, and the staff video conferences fairs with our partners in Japan, at Washburn for your support of this endeavor. Nepal, Paraguay, Brazil, and new partners in the THANK YOU! Bahamas, Korea, and Saudi Arabia. We were hoping things would get better in summer to host our 8th
Staff News Dr. Andy Vogel, Coordinator of International Student Recruitment & Retention, earned his doctorate in education at Drake University. He presented on “Uses of Technology and Social Media in International Education” at NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo. He also presented on “International Student Enrichment in US Technology” at the United States Education Foundation in Kathmandu, Nepal Tina Williams, Study Abroad Coordinator, presented “An Introduction to Trends in International Education” at the 2020 Belizean International Symposium on Education. Mary Ann Wittman, Lecturer Emeritus, retired at the end of the 2020 academic year after eight year of teaching as full-time instructor in the Intensive English Program. Prior to that, Mary Ann also taught as adjunct at Washburn for over twenty years. International Accents Magazine | 9
Congratulations International Students Scholarship Recipients 2020 Congratulations to the following recipients of the 2020-2021 International Programs Scholarships! This year a total of $35,000 were awarded. A big thank-you to the many generous donors and friends of Washburn International Programs, whose support makes the Washburn Experience even more rewarding and memorable for our international students. Non Nobis Solum – Not for Ourselves Alone! William H. Guild International Programs Fund Abrar Altamimi, Alisha Bajracharya, Ajar Basnet, Ankita Bhattarai, Nilam Dangi, Sushil Dhakal, Avinash Dhimal, Raul-Alin Dicu, Bradley Eidenmueller, Xiaoyu Han, Xinyue He, Yumi Hidaka, Hongyu Wang, Ukpekor Jarigbe, Gemima Joseph, Rajesh Kandel, Ashmita Kharel, David Kibet, Nikki Kraaijeveld, Prithvi Raj Kunwar, Anh Le Class of 1910 Fund Yueyi Sun, Dipesh Thapa, Naoki Tsuneda, Alejandro Valarezo Class of 1912 Fund Nhut Thien Vu, Kun Xie, Yixin Ying, Guoshuai Zhang Lauranna Russell Clothier International Programs Scholarship Fund – Marc Roura Casi, Virginia Scardanzan, Shreya Shahi, Simran Shrestha, Maria Soler Valverde, Haoxiang Sun Allyn O. Lockner & Barb McCandless Internationalist for the Future Fund Khue Nguyen, Nha Chi Nguyen, Maria Laura Rivas Wright ICT / Betty Jo “Bo” Sheafor Fund Alisha Pyakurel Sturm / Workman Family International Fund Sambridhi Regmi Stanley Curyea Memorial Fund Yuxin Zheng Jack Miller International Scholarship Fund Kenya Oi Hula International Student Fund Sanskar Neupane 10 | International Accents Magazine
Congratulations Dr. William H & Patricia Zimmerman Scholarship Fund Tsubasa Mori Dr. David Thurston Memorial Scholarship Fund Sumnima Limbu ICT/William O. Wagnon Fund Chenxi Liao (Topeka Rotary) Francine Hines Memorial Scholarship Ojashwi “OJ” Rana
Study Abroad Scholarship Recipients During 2019-2020, seventy-three students received a total of $65,000 in scholarships to support their study abroad programs. Students who completed their study abroad program as an International Education Washburn Transformational Experience received IE-WTE scholarships. Additional awards were made possible through the Geneva Seybold Scholarship Fund. We thank our donors and sponsors for their generosity, vision, and support for study abroad. Kelsey Barrick Kendall Beemer Alexandria Boyd Luke Broeckelman Cecelia Caraccilo Jordan Carlson Wyatt Carter Kaylie Collins Allison Cross Alyssa Davis Jordan Dickens James Esser Brooke Ginter Alyssa Hatch Sheldon Haynes Kenna Hoffman Carly Holm
Parker Jones Chloe Jones Shelby Kutzke Brooke Lachenmayr Morgan Makowski Rosalinda Marquez Samuel Merutka Spencer Mitchell Mackenzie Moore Brandon Moreno Noah Morgan Lesly Munoz-Villalobos Mary Panuco Lindsey Pitzer Emily Prekopy René Renteria Cervantes Stephanie Richner
Emily Ronnebaum Mackenzie Savage Heath Seematter Mya Siffring Dalton Smith Crystal Sondrol Jack Soto Conner Starbird Kelly Sutton Jacob Talkin Ian Trapp Alexis VanDonge Clinton Whitney Marissa Willard Adam Young
Geneva Seybold Scholarship Hannah Arneson Alexis Barton Holly Beaver Nellie Betzen Mayela Campa Jasmine Creighton
Jordan Dickens Mallory Hamilton Michelle Heusi Abigail Holloway Radie Keller Noah Kincaid
Melissa King Claire Leffingwell Paeton McCarty Paeton McCarty Gracela Ortega Hannah Peterson
Eric Rorstrom Jillian Roy Balin Schneider Emily Unruh Sarah Weidenhofer Amanda Zoetmulder International Accents Magazine | 11
Congratulations Fifty-five International Students Graduate Congratulations to the following 55 students, who overcame challenges and obstacles during the past year and graduated! We are so proud of you! Go Bods! Spring/Summer 2020 Graduates Name Country Degree & Major/s Reem Alanazi Saudi Arabia MSW in Social Work Mohammed Alarki Saudi Arabia BBA in Management Essa Aldarbi Saudi Arabia BA in Communication Maram Alkoodary Saudi Arabia MSW in Social Work Meshal Alqasem Saudi Arabia BA in Communication Abdulmajeed Alqasem Saudi Arabia BA in Communication Omar Alqusmul Saudi Arabia BA in Political Science Salem Alsharari Saudi Arabia BIS in Integrated Studies Mousia Assiri Saudi Arabia BSN in Nursing Richa Bhattarai Nepal LLM in Law Sunita Bista Nepal LLM in Law Jimena Burt Paraguay BED in Elementary Education Yuxi Chen China BBA in Finance Hendrikus Delport South Africa LLM in Law Paul Haase Germany BBA in Finance and International Business Rio Hamaguchi Japan BS in Forensic Chemical Science Eriko Hiranoi US/Japan BA in Mass Media Yuto Hirayama Japan BBA in Management Kazuya Hiroyama Japan BBA in Entrepreneurship & Innovation Atsuhiro Iizuka Japan BA in Communication Yusuke Ito Japan BA in Economics Mizuki Iwasa Japan BA in Mass Media Dariush Javid Milani Belgium MBA Yoshihito Kinouchi Japan BS in Kinesiology Yue Li China BFA in Art Yuchen Li China BBA in Accounting Michael MacPhee Canada JD in Law Givi Mazmishvili Georgia LLM in Law Paul Mismaque France BBA in Marketing Tite Munganga DR Congo BBA in Management Gregory Osuji Nigeria BS in Computer Information Science Nicole Phaneuf Canada JD in Law 12 | International Accents Magazine
Latin & Department Honors
Magna Cum Laude, Education Cum Laude, School of Business Scholar
Magna Cum Laude, School of Business Scholar
Magna Cum Laude, Communication Summa Cum Laude, School of Business Scholar
Summa Cum Laude Summa Cum Laude, Art Summa Cum Laude, School of Business Scholar
Cum Laude
Congratulations Divyaraj Rana Sabela Reigosa Pernas Yijuan Zhao Mingzhu Zhu
India
BIS in Integrated Studies
Spain
BIS in Integrated Studies
Cum Laude
China
BA in Art History
Summa Cum Laude, Art
China
BA in Mass Media
Fall 2020 Graduates Name Atit Adhikari Yossif Albukhari Ahmad Al Ghafli Rakan Alhuwaimel Abrar Altamimi Ramez Alzayer Thomas Carvalho Yash Chitrakar Ricknit Gill Ke Hu David Kimani Salon Kungni Ashmita Mehra Haruka Muratani Saeed Murfat Shailu Sharma Keisuke Takahashi Yasuhiko Yoshikawa
Country
Degree & Major/s
Nepal
BS in Computer Information Science
Saudi Arabia
BBA in Finance and Economics
Saudi Arabia
BBA in Finance and Economics
Saudi Arabia
BBA in Finance and Economics
Saudi Arabia
MBA
Saudi Arabia
BA in Communication
France
BBA in Finance and International Business
Nepal
BA in English
Canada
JD in Law
China
MBA
Kenya
DNP in Nursing
Cameroon
BBA in Marketing and Management
India
BS in Computer Information Science
Japan
BS in Computer Information Science
Saudi Arabia
BA in Communication
Nepal
LLM in Law
Japan
BA in Mass Media
Japan
BA in Psychology
Latin and Department Honors
Summa Cum Laude, English
Virtual graduation recognition International Accents Magazine | 13
Donor Profile A Global Gift
From President’s Office to around the world, Rugena Hall sees value in supporting Washburn
A
s a child, Rugena Hall lived in Japan while her father was stationed there in the Air Force. That sparked an interest in travel and culture that increased years later when she became
involved in hosting international students studying at Washburn University. At one point, Rugena and her husband, Jim Hall, had a student from China live with them for two and a half years.
Rugena Hall
“Those events have contributed to why I think international studies programs are so important,” Rugena, ba ’00, said. “You learn so much. You can read about it in a book. You can talk to people
here in the states about it, but until you actually go there, it’s not real.”
Rugena has worked at Washburn for 25 years. She and Jim give annually to international studies and other
campus areas, and she created a program fund named after herself and Carly Wang, bba ‘11, her student from China. A gift in her estate will endow the Rugena Hall & Luodan ‘Carly’ Wang International Program Fund and provide financial assistance every year in perpetuity to Washburn’s Office of International Programs. The office coordinates Washburn students studying abroad and international students studying on campus. The combination of experiencing another culture and sharing her own intrigues her. When she and Jim were hosting Carly, it was sometimes a challenge to explain social issues or common sayings.
“Every day after dinner Carly had questions; things she maybe heard or didn’t understand,” Rugena said.
“Sometimes, Jim and I would go to bed that night and think, holy moly, that was really tough.” Rugena’s Washburn adventure started as an office assistant to the assistant vice president for academic affairs 25 years ago. With Jim working for the railroad in the evenings, she decided to take advantage of employee tuition assistance and finish her degree.
“I thought it was crazy for me not to be taking classes,” she said. “I did it just for me, and Washburn helped.
I feel a great debt to Washburn, and I want to leave something in appreciation of that.” Rugena became assistant to President Jerry Farley in 2001 after she finished her bachelor of arts in communication. At first, she was intimidated working with a university president, but she said the Dr. Farley people see in public is the Dr. Farley she sees in the office.
“People will say to me, ‘What’s he like?’ He’s just like when you meet him. That’s what he’s like; he’s not any
different,” she said. “He’s very easy to work with and has a great sense of humor.” As his assistant for 19 years, she’s seen plenty of good things. She recently saw campus units come together to help a student who was upset about his academic progress graduate with an associate’s degree. “All these people came together to make this happen for him and lift his spirits and make it a wonderful experience for him,” she said.
“I have not regretted or had second thoughts about my gift to Washburn at all. It’s the right thing to do. I
work here and see all the wonderful things that happen. With the students I meet, I feel comfortable with the future, and I would like to see all of them be helped for generations to come.” Reprinted from: https://wualumni.planmylegacy.org/donor-stories/jim-and-rugena-hall 14 | International Accents Magazine
International Scholars
E
ach year, the university community welcomes new scholars and teachers to the faculty. They replenish our talent pool, bringing in new experience and perspectives from all over the country and around the world. They play a vital role in keeping Washburn’s tradition as a vibrant and nurturing learning community. In this issue, we feature two of the international scholars.
Lucy Tan, DMA pianist, began her musical journey from a young age, having been featured on the stages of notable venues such as Jordan Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center. She made her live WGBH radio debut at age 11 on “Morning Pro Musica” with Robert Lurtzema, followed by her concerto debut at age 12 with the Brockton Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Tan was also featured on NPR’s “From the Top” and WBGH’s “Classics in the Morning.” Her performances have taken her across the United States and internationally, and she has participated in renowned music festivals and won many piano competitions. She is an avid chamber musician, and has been featured in or directed many collaborative projects over the years. Dr. Tan received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music, and was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from the University of Colorado Boulder. She has presented at CSMTA State Conferences, and also was invited to adjudicate events for young musicians such as the Greater Southwest Music Festival and MAMTA Piano Concerto Competition. Dr. Tan was formerly on faculty at Oklahoma Panhandle State University for three years, but is now coordinator of the Keyboard Division at Washburn University where she specializes in piano. She volunteers as Advertising Chair of the CSMTA Advisory Council, and is passionate about connecting with music teachers’ organizations in the region. Originally born in Beijing, she actually spent most of her life in Massachusetts, and now lives in Topeka with her husband and their three cats.
Hoang L. Nguyen, Ph.D. was born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Upon graduating from high school, Hoang Nguyen decided to pursue his higher education in the United States. Hoang Nguyen later graduated with summa cum laude and earned his Bachelor’s degree with a double major in Economics and Chemistry from Adelphi University, New York, where he was awarded the Honors College Scholarship. Dr. Nguyen received his Doctorate from Cornell University for his dissertation in Chemistry and Chemical Biology. Continuing his passion for scientific research, Dr. Nguyen accepted a postdoctoral research position, working with Dr. Randall H. Goldsmith at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. In August 2020, amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Nguyen joined the Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences at Washburn University as an assistant professor. During his academic career, Dr. Nguyen has presented his research at numerous local, national, and international conferences. Among his achievements, the most noticeable are the Honorable Mention from the National Scientific Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and the International EPR/ESR Society Best Poster Award. Outside of studying, teaching, and research, Dr. Nguyen is passionate about advocacy, volunteering, and professional and community outreach. He has participated in many scientific events, joined several advocacy committees, and assumed many leadership positions. Dr. Nguyen looks forward to exploring Topeka and enjoying the Department of Chemistry’s collaborative environment.
International Accents Magazine | 15
Phi Beta Delta Retirements
E
ach year, Washburn says goodbye and thanks to members of the faculty and staff who moved on to the next phase of their lives. In this issue, we feature four distinguished scholars and teachers, who impacted our campus tremendously with their illustrious careers, including their contribution to internationalizing the Washburn community. It is worth noting that they were all proud members and officers of Phi Beta Delta, Honors Society for International Scholars.
Dr. Shiao-Li Ding (Years of Services 1993-2020) As a pianist, Dr. Ding has given solo performances, lecture-recitals and presentations at national and international conferences in Berlin, Germany; Vienna, Austria; Stavanger, Norway; Bangkok, Thailand; Kula Lumpur, Malaysia; Singapore; and Beijing and many cities in China. In the United States, she has given solo performances in Kansas, Michigan, Massachusetts, Indiana, Illinois, Vermont, and many other places. She commissioned and premiered a group of piano etude by Unsuk Chin. Her own composition “Postcards from China,” has won a Palatino Awards and published recently by the Central Conservatory of Music, in Beijing, China. Dr. Ding’s research interests include historic recordings of Sergei Rachmaninoff and piano works of contemporary Chinese composers. Her articles have published in Clavier as well as in Chinese publications Journal of the Central Conservatory of Music and Piano Artistry. At Washburn, she taught Studio Piano, Piano Accompanying, World Music, and Group Piano, among other courses, for over 27 years. Dr. Ding was instrumental in helping strengthen international education at Washburn. She built exchange programs, recruited talented piano students, mentored them throughout their studies, and led several student group trips to China. She also served on the Phi Beta Delta executive board for many years.
Dr. Bob Boncella (Years of Services 1983-2020) Dr. Boncella completed a long career at Washburn University serving as assistant, associate, and full professor of Computer Information Sciences within the College of Arts and Sciences, and most recently, in the School of Business. He served many years as MBA director. Dr. Boncella was a very active international educator. He published internationally, mentored numerous international students during his tenure. Most notably, Dr. Boncella taught at China’s Wuhan University of Science & Technology (WUST) as summer guest professor for over ten years. He was highly regarded by the faculty and students alike at WUST.
16 | International Accents Magazine
Phi Beta Delta Retirements Dr. Judy McConnell-Farmer (Years of Services 1994-2020) “I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world”. (Mary Anne Radmacher). It is due to the generosity of the Washburn University International Program (WUIP) and specifically the encouragement of Bill Langdon and Baili Zhang that I had an opportunity to “…(see) the moon shine on the other side of the world.” During my twenty-six years as a Professor of Early Childhood Education in the Department of Education, and before retiring in August 2020, I benefitted from the benevolent support of my international travels. To date I have visited forty countries around the globe, from China to India to Croatia, Brazil, and Australia, volunteering and presenting papers at international conferences, symposiums, and workshops. The WUIP has made many of my travels possible. During my twenty-six years as a Professor of Early Childhood Education in the Department of Education, and before retiring in August 2020, I benefitted from the benevolent support of my international travels. To date I have visited forty countries around the globe, from China to India to Croatia, Brazil, and Australia, volunteering and presenting papers at international conferences, symposiums, and workshops. The WUIP has made many of my travels possible. Among the many international professional activities, I am particularly to have been the facilitator of the Oxford Round Tables (now titled, the International Round Table Symposium) a 4-day international conference located at Oxford University in England since 2003. The Round Tables focus on a variety of educational and social topics. In every Round Table there are delegates from five to ten countries who participate in an international “think tank”. I am currently waiting to facilitate my forty-nineth Round Table post Covid-19, perhaps in March 2022. I am equally proud of the student study abroad trips I led / co-led to Jamaica, Belize, England, and France. These trips really opened eyes for our student participants and enriched my own life in return. I am greatly indebted to the Sweet sisters whose generous gift funded international development for numerous faculty members. I was the twice lucky recipient of the Mary Sweet Sabbatical grant, which allowed me to conduct my professional activities in Italy and Nepal while traveling through Austria, Hungry, India, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. In conclusion, I reflect on my years of traveling and volunteering while presenting more than two hundred papers at international conferences, symposiums, and workshops. Carew Papritz summarizes my yearning to travel best when he said: “I travel because it makes me realize how much I haven’t seen, how much I’m not going to see, and how much I still need to see”. International Accents Magazine | 17
Phi Beta Delta Retirements Professor William Rich (Years of Services 1977-2020) During his tenure as professor, Rich has primarily taught constitutional law, constitutional litigation, civil liberties, and jurisprudence courses. He has also served as the James R. Ahrens chair in torts and constitutional law, as well as associate dean of the law school for five years, acting dean in 1985, and interim dean in 2006. His scholarship has included a three-volume treatise on modern constitutional law, and he plans to continue annual updates to that publication after he retires. Rich originally came to Washburn to work with low-income individuals through the Washburn Law Clinic, but he quickly discovered he enjoyed the classroom even more than one-on-one interactions in the clinical context. “The very best occurs when students really become engaged, both with the material and with the learning process,” Rich said. “That can take place both in class and outside of the classroom. It’s extremely rewarding when students become excited about what they’re doing, and engagement outside of the classroom often makes the students feel as if they have accomplished something significant.” During his 43-year career at Washburn, Rich has fostered engagement by working with Washburn Law Clinic students representing inmates in constitutional challenges to Kansas prison conditions, a case that went on for 19 years and resulted in a number of major changes within the Kansas Department of Corrections. Rich has also facilitated collaborations between Washburn students and a constitutional law clinic in Tbilisi, Georgia, which has provided opportunities for real-world experience and feedback. Though certain aspects of legal education have changed, Rich’s dedication to his students has remained constant. “The faculty here have always been devoted to teaching,” Rich said. “They see that as a primary part of their responsibility. It is that shared feeling among the faculty that in turn is so nice. Maintaining that will take work, both in terms of how we go about using technology and making sure we continue doing things here at the law school that result in students staying engaged with us as a faculty.” (Adapted from Washburn Lawyer - Fall 2019)
PROPOSED NEW WASHBURN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW 18 | International Accents Magazine
Study Abroad
I
n our community and around the world COVID-19 brought immediate and sweeping changes and interruptions to our lives. WU student, Madison Funk and Brooks Whitney share how they navigated their way through the crisis and how it changed their study abroad experience. Madison Funk, Senior, Spanish Major 2020 Spring Semester Study Abroad Cartagena, Colombia A spring semester living in Cartagena, Colombia and studying Spanish ten minutes from the beach was a life changing experience for Madison Funk, WU Senior Spanish Major. She described her study abroad program as “everything I dreamed of and more”. However, Madison’s study abroad program was not necessarily the experience she originally signed up for. When the novel coronavirus made its way across the world and eventually reached Colombia, Madison was faced with a difficult decision to stay or return. Madison weighed the options and decided to stay knowing that it would not be the experience she had planned for. Madison’s classes met daily, in the afternoons & evenings she had free time to explore the city. She spent many afternoons at a Surf School on the beach, where she later volunteered, providing English translation of surf lessons. She lived with other international
Madison Funk (second from the right) attending a Carnival Parade, February 2020
students in a home near the school. Her host mother, Juana and she became very close. When the spread of the corona virus prompted the Colombian Government to impose travel restrictions and quarantine regulations Madison and her host mother spent many hours of quality time together at home. They spent their days structured around projects in the home, practicing yoga and playing the guitar and singing. Madison credits this time with helping her develop a more productive and purposeful way of living. A skill that she has been able to transfer back and apply towards her daily routine back in the US.
International Accents Magazine | 19
Study Abroad Brooks Whitney, Sophomore, Communications Major 2020 Spring Semester Study Abroad Maastricht, Netherlands Brooks chose a unique path that led him to his study abroad experience at Washburn University. Rather than go directly to college following high school he participated in a Gap Year program in Nepal. His Gap Year program included both work and study experiences. He taught English at a secondary school and he participated in an internship learning about the Nepali Tea Industry. His friendships and connections inspired him to continue his pursuit of international education as a student at WU. He found the Netherlands and Dutch culture to be the best option and the exchange program at Zuyd University in Maastricht offered classes in his major taught in English. After arriving in Maastrict he immediately made a diverse group of friends from different countries. Things were off to a great start, he headed out to explore Europe with some of his new friends and during travels in Portugal they became aware of the severity of the pandemic and retuned to Maastricht to find a different campus culture. It was an intense time as they supported one another through the rapid changes happening on their campus and in their host community and country. Initially he remained in the Netherlands and was a pillar of support for other students but, eventually when most of the other students returned home and there did not seem to be the possibly of things returning to normal he decided after only 3 short months to return. Although, it was not the experience he had signed up for he credits the unique circumstances of studying abroad during a pandemic to elevating the life lessons he learned and accelerating the friendships and connections he made with classmates, teachers and people he met along the way.
Brooks Whitney (front) and friends during Carnival celebration, February 2020
20 | International Accents Magazine
Study Abroad Washburn Welcomes Two New International Exchange Partners BELGRADE UNIVERSITY Location: Belgrade, Serbia Population: 1,700,000 Language: Serbian Currency: dinar (RSD) Website: bg.ac.rs/en/students/ students.php The University of Belgrade is a state university. In its 200-year tradition, the University of Belgrade has educated more than 300,000 students in 31 faculties and 13 institutes. The University of Belgrade offers superior education, in a “city that never sleeps”. Belgrade is a capital city rich in history and rapidly moving toward a renewed future. Fittingly known as the “Gateway to the Balkans” and the “Door to Central Europe”, Belgrade is the epicenter of Serbian culture, education, and science, and has the highest concentration of nationally important science and art institutions.
NAGASAKI UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN STUDIES Location: Nagasaki, Japan Population: 407,624 Language: Japanese Currency: Yen Website: http://www.nagasaki-gaigo. ac.jp/?lang=en Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies offers an opportunity for WU students to study undergraduate level courses in Japanese language and in Japanese studies. Besides academic studies, the program emphasizes a wide exposure to Japanese society and culture through field trips, tours, social activities, and stays in Japanese-style housing. Nagasaki is located on the northwest coast of the island of Kyushu. It’s set on a large natural harbor, with buildings on the terraces of surrounding hills. It is synonymous with a key moment during World War II, after suffering an Allied nuclear attack in August 1945. The event is memorialized at the city’s Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park. International Accents Magazine | 21
Feature Sixty-eight Years of AFS in Topeka… Carol Lonard, Topeka AFS Chapter Coordinator For more information: afsusa.org or afs.org/archives/timeline/
AFS, American Field Service, began in 1917 as a group of volunteers who drove ambulances in World War I & World War II. It also fell to AFS to oversee the closing of concentration camps in Europe after the war since it was not possible to just open the gates. The camps were full of weak, starving and dying individuals who were also homeless. After the war the military took over the jobs themselves that AFS volunteers had previously done. Rather than disband, AFS volunteers determined they wanted to do something to promote peace around the world. It was decided they would start an exchange program so people from different parts of the world could get to know each other on a personal level to help prevent war in the future. They began their new mission as AFS Intercultural Exchange Program by bringing 50 high school students from Germany and France to the United States to spend a year in an American High School. The first group came in 1948. Imagine how brave the students from Germany were to come to the United States four short years after the conclusion of a war with her country. Among that first AFS exchange students to come to the USA were a couple of students who came to Garden City, Kansas. The first AFS student, a student from Germany, came to Topeka in 1952 and attended Topeka High School. She maintained a relationship with her host family throughout the years to come—first with host parents and later after they passed with host siblings. Her last trip to Topeka was during the 1990’s when I had the opportunity to meet her. Topeka High has hosted AFS students ever since that year until this year when the program was suspended due to COVID. There are plans to begin bringing students again for the 192122 year if conditions permit. The Topeka AFS chapter began in 1952 and has continued until the present time. Within the next few years the Topeka chapter placed students with families at Highland Park High and Topeka West High Schools and then also expanded to include Washburn Rural and Seaman High Schools. Shawnee Heights and Silver Lake had their own AFS chapters for many years until these eventually merged with the Topeka Chapter. For a period of time AFS also had a teacher exchange program. Several were placed in schools in Topeka including Topeka High & Highland Park. One was Washburn’s own Baili Zhang who, after returning home to China for a number of years, immigrated to the USA and is now director of International Studies at Washburn University. Throughout the years AFS has coordinated various activities with Washburn including an annual gathering of AFS students from all over Kansas. Topeka has hosted hundreds of AFS students since 1952 and we look forward to carrying the program into the future. Hundreds of families & school classmates in our area schools have been touched by their association with students from all over the world. If you walk into the school cafeteria of Topeka High, you will see a wall full of flags that represent the many countries of students who have attended Topeka High. As early as 1964 the Topeka chapter has also sent AFS students abroad with students going to such far away destinations as Russia & Egypt & South America. On a personal level, I have had the opportunity to volunteer with AFS for 30 years. To close, I will tell a personal story that I believe represents the impact of AFS. In my first year as a volunteer, my daughter was a middle school student. I took her along to many of the AFS chapter activities. She became acquainted with one student in particular who paid attention to the middle school tag-along. At the end of the year, her host family had a going away party for her and as usual I took my daughter with me to say good-bye. As we drove home, my daughter said to me, “Mom, Spain is not just a place on the map anymore—it is where ‘Liliana’ lives.” Personal connections can make all the difference in how we think about other places in the world. 22 | International Accents Magazine
Feature International Summer Institute By Katelynn Rollings As the world was at a standstill with COVID19 impacting daily life, international students continued to pursue their educational goals. 2020 was a year of unique challenges. Educators and universities faced new challenges in unexplored learning modes. However, this did not stop the International Summer Institute. On July 14, the first-ever virtual International Summer Institute began with 25 Japanese students. We kickstarted the program with students heading to their first class of the summer: Academic Writing. With first-day jitters and a few minor technology issues, students were excited to meet their instructor and classmates for the next three and half weeks. Each year I look forward to the new people and experiences each summer brings. Similarly, each year of the program is different with a different group of students and adventures; this year was even more so. Mondays through Fridays students attended three full days of academic classes. From Academic Writing to Language in Context, students studied different areas of the English language virtually. The International Summer Institute professors pushed themselves to find new and engaging teaching methods to connect with students over 6,000 miles away. In Zoom class, students learned how to write detailed paragraphs and comparison essays as well as pronounce tonguetwisters and conversation starters. Gabbi Rollins had this to add “The teachers constantly encourage the students to assimilate English with their daily lives by asking daily questions and writings about their personal experiences.” This year’s format allowed students to not only practice their English but prepare for university life in the United States. Students explored their learning style and personality type, learned new methods of studying and how to successfully navigate university.
Outside of the academic setting, we explored American life and culture through conversation workshops, tutoring, and university prep classes! The second American Program Assistant, Gabbi Rollins, and I hosted daily tutoring sessions to work one-on-one with students. No matter the late hours, Gabbi and I enjoyed getting the chance to connect and speak with the students. With caffeine on standby, we also offered conversation workshops and virtual game nights for students. The things that stick out to me the most are the little activities and moments we shared through a computer screen. During a time of isolation, the International Summer Institute offered a haven for students, professors, and program assistants to connect with other human beings. One memory that stood out to me was our virtual game night. With a handful of students on Zoom, we challenged each other to different trivia games, such as naming country flags, sports facts, and Disney history. Towards the end of the program, we were also excited to welcome a handful of students to Washburn’s campus as they transitioned to quarantine. Finally meeting students in person and welcoming them to the United States and Washburn reminded me of why I love this program. These little moments that we create are genuinely life-changing. At the end of the four-week program, I was sad to see the students leave with the ending of our virtual graduation ceremony. I wish all the ISI students success at their next university.
Arriving at KCI
Virtual Zoom Class
International Accents Magazine | 23
Feature
PAIS 2020 By Dr. Andy Vogel and Michala Stokes PAIS (Presidential Ambassadors for International Students) is a group of outstanding students, both domestic and international, who donate their time and dedicate themselves as mentors to the new international students coming to Washburn. Their effort is instrumental to the smooth transition to an entirely new living and learning environment. We thank them for their contribution!
24 | International Accents Magazine
Feature U.S. - China Youth Ambassador’s Home on the Range By Annie (Xiaohui) Zheng, Faculty Leader/Sponsor
January 25 to February 7 of 2020 was a time I will never forget in my life. That was a time when I, as faculty leader and ten students representing Quzhou No. 2 High School visited Topeka under the US-China Youth Ambassador Program organized by Washburn University and Topeka High School. We were the third cohort of this wonderful program. Two groups representing Topeka High and Seaman High School had reciprocated the exchange. We enjoyed every site we visited and everything we did while in Topeka: The beautiful campus of Washburn, the majestic Topeka High School building, the State Capitol, Brown v Board Historical Site, the Governor’s Mansion, Kansas History Museum, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum. As Ambassador Aoyang Chen observed Washburn University’s “unique beauty and elegance with the clock tolling under the blue skies…. Unlike metropolitan areas or industrial cities, people in Topeka lead a quiet and peaceful life.” We got to experience school life through visiting Hayden High School and Topeka High and interacting with the students and faculty. We are intrigued by the different campus and classroom layouts, different teaching styles and different classes. My students marveled at how the students here can use Mobile phone and computer in class freely, which is restricted in China, how the teacher and students can exchange ideas so easily in class, and how many extra-curriculum activities and clubs are available. The highlight of the program was the weekend home stay. Our host families were all very enthusiastic and kind to us. Even as the Pandemic was beginning to threaten the area, these families took us in, encouraged us, and treated us as part of their family. As Ambassador Yuruo Yan “Lisa” shared, “My host family is so thoughtful and caring that they made me feel totally at home! …During the short trip, I not only made good friends but increased knowledge and broadened my horizons.” During the home stay, we all got to do interesting things with our host such as taking a walk and going to church. The most exciting was the Super Bowl party we got to experience watching the Kansas City Chiefs miraculously coming from behind and win. We are all fans of the Chiefs now. Millions of thanks to all who assisted us, encouraged us, took care of us, and made us feel at home during our stay in Kansas, “where seldom is heard a discouraging word, and the skies are not cloudy all day.”
U.S. - China Youth Ambassadors touring the KS governor’s Mansion International Accents Magazine | 25
Alumni Everything’s Rosie Internship leads to role with Dept. of Commerce
Photo Essay Contest
Even with international shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world continues to go on – just in a slightly more digital form. Recent graduate Rosie Nichols experienced this firsthand as she interviewed for a job as an international development representative with the Kansas Department of Commerce via a Zoom interview in a McDonald’s parking lot in Russell, Kansas. The best part? She got the job. (The Ichabod Fall 2020) Rosie credits her academic year study abroad program in Belfast, Northern Ireland and other short-term study abroad programs in with helping her achieve this career goal. To view the entire article and learn more about how administration, donors and Wasshburn nursing student, Kenna Hoffman, working hard to help identify health problems supporters helped Rosie achieve her success visit the Kenna Hoffman, 1st Place WU Alumni Association and Foundation website: Senior, Nursing, CAMP & Costa Rica Experience 2020 https://wualumni.org/rosie-nichols. “Pura Vida in Costa Rica” “This trip did not only transform me as a nursing student, but also as a person. I see everything so much differently
Doctorial Studies Ms. Richa Bhattarai (LLM ‘20) was admitted into the Ph.D. program in International Conflict Management at Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw-Atlanta, Georgia), which is the only such program in North America and is highly selective.
26 | International Accents Magazine
now... I have a new sense of appreciation and am already counting the days to when I can go back next year to see these children again!” Congratulations to Kenna Hoffman, the 2020 Study Abroad Photo Essay Contest Winner! The Study Abroad Photo Essay Contest was established in 2006 to recognize the importance of WU students’ international experiences and promote study abroad to other WU students and the community. Visit the Office of International Programs website: www.washburn.edu/iip to view the complete wining photo essay.
Alumni
Left: Valeria Gonzalez Britez Middle: Natalia Gonzalez Gonzalez Right: Jessica Cabral Schulz
BECAL-New Program Bringing Talented Paraguayan Students to Washburn University by Jessica Cabral, 2020 Participant
BECAL is the name given to the Scholarships awarded by the Paraguayan Government for students who wish to carry out undergraduate exchanges, master’s and PhD programs anywhere in the world. Fortythree students have been benefited to study in Kansas, USA. These scholarships allow students with outstanding academic records and limited resources to access an academic exchange option. For the average Paraguayan student, access to a quality university education can be difficult, especially when it comes to studying in the United States. Normally only people of high socio-economic level can have this type of benefits, hence the importance of government institutions such as BECAL, which allow students like me, to have a better academic preparation. During my time at Washburn University I was able to experience the life of an American university student, which broadened my vision not only in the academic field, since I now seek to implement what I have learned in my country, but also in terms of interpersonal relationships, since I learned about various cultures from the American to the Asian countries. Briefly I can say that I found myself living within a warmer community than I expected, with teachers who not only taught me new concepts and techniques, but also boosted my potential as a future nutrition professional. Where my fellow residents and classmates always provided me with support and kindness on a daily basis and as time went by they became my family. International Accents Magazine | 27
Other News
T
his summer the Office of International Programs worked with WU Video Services to produce a 20-minute video that shares the history of the International House and an overview of the international education services and opportunities provided through The Office of International Programs. The video is narrated by WU International Student Ambassadors. To view the video, visit https://video.washburn.edu/hapi/v1/contents/ permalinks/s5G4Fpw8/view
Screen shots from video
28 | International Accents Magazine
Other News International Programs Family of the Year Each year, the Office of International Programs selects a local family for the “Family of the Year” award, which recognizes the family for their generous support for our international students. This year’s award is given to Dr. Sanford and Francine Pomerantz. Sadly, Mrs. Pomerantz passed a few months after being presented the award.
Top Hat Winner The Office of International Programs Top Hat entry won an award in the category of “Best Reflects Homecoming Theme”. The top hat was decorated with the symbols form the home countries of some of our international students and featured the home coming theme “Non Nobis Solum” (Not for Ourselves Alone) translated into the languages of many of our international students.
Cultural Performance Group On October 2, 2020, WU turned the Henderson Learning Center parking lots into a free drive-in performance venue featuring Siento y Vivo Flamenco Performance Group from Kansas City. The performance included a mix of traditional & cuttingedge Spanish Flamenco music & dance. The drive-in performance venue allowed for enjoyment of this highly expressive performance from a vehicle and at a distance. The event was sponsored by University Diversity & Inclusion, The College of Arts & Sciences, and The Office of International Programs
Right to Left Michael McClintock, guitarist, Beau Bledsoe, guitarist, Melinda Hedgecorth, dancer, and Coleen Dieker, violinist. International Accents Magazine | 29
In Memory “A life that touches
W
others goes on forever.”
e were saddened to have lost three dear friends of International Programs in 2020. They, along with their spouses and families, were ardent supports of international students and international education at Washburn by opening up their homes and hearts to welcome our students. We are forever grateful to them. They will continue to live in our hearts. Don Anderson died 11/14/20 at age 83. He pastored & served on committees with the United Methodist church in eastern Kansas and was active in local Topeka organizations including Interfaith of Topeka, the Center for Peace and Justice, International Center of Topeka, Standing Bear Intertribal Brotherhood, NE Kansas Allied Tribes, & Awi Akta (Cherokee). Published in Topeka Capital-Journal from 1937-2020
Nov. 22 to Nov. 23, 2020.
In Don’s memory, “ICT / The Rev. Don and Bobbie Anderson Contingency Fund for International Students” has been established through the Washburn Foundation (Tel: 785-670-4483).
Francine Martha (Reed) Pomerantz, 76, of Topeka, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, November 9, 2020. She was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in February. Published in Topeka Capital-Journal from Nov. 15 to Nov. 16, 2020.
In memory of Francine, “Francine Pomerantz Memorial Fund” has been established through the Washburn Foundation (Tel: 785- 670-4483)
1944-2020
Philip (Phil) Charles Duguid, 66, of Meriden KS, first saw his Savior face-to-face on 19 September 2020. He was born to the late Charles and Edith Duguid in Leavenworth, KS on May 24, 1954, and was raised on the Duguid farm just outside of Boyle, Kansas.
1954-2020 30 | International Accents Magazine
To view a full obituary visit
www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com.
Host an International Student Join an International Organization
Attend OIP Events
Help and Support International Programs
Help Fund Scholarships
Come to the International House on Campus
Call us at 785-670-1051 Email: international@ washburn.edu
International Accents Magazine | 31
Office of International Programs
Follow Us on Social Media
@bodsabroad www.washburn.edu/ip