March 30, 2006

SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY SHOWCASES AFRICAN STUDENT CULTURE
Event features African art, food, music and culture

Minneapolis – Students at Saint Mary’s University’s School of Graduate & Professional Programs in Minneapolis know the value of multicultural education. They experience it in the classroom through connections with classmates from around the world. Saint Mary’s currently has students enrolled who originate from 36 different countries besides the United States. To further the cultural learning among the students, the newly-formed International Students Group hosted an African Cultural Extravaganza at the Twin Cities Campus on May 29. The event featured African food, music, and artwork such as paintings, sculpture, wood carvings, tapestries and woodwork. The items showcased the 13 African countries which Saint Mary’s students represent, including Ghana, Kenya, Sudan, Liberia, and Ethiopia.	A variety of artwork brought African culture to the Twin Cities campus.
This was the first of what will be a series of cultural events, said International Student Group organizer Sandra Hamilton, a student in the doctor of education in leadership program. Hamilton, who came to Minnesota from Jamaica to earn her doctoral degree, said she appreciates the diverse population at Saint Mary’s. “I think the diversity enhances our classroom experiences,” Hamilton said. “Each group brings a distinct set of experience that we can learn from.” The International Student Group plans to organize one cultural expose event each semester, with Europe and Asia on tap for future events.                                                                                ###	The International Students Group prepared and served native African dishes to students, faculty, staff, and guests.
Lee Amenya, a Saint Mary's alumnus and staff            member from Kenya, discusses a piece of African            artwork with student and staff member Sarah Lang.	Sandra Hamilton, a Saint Mary's Ed.D. candidate from Jamaica, welcomed the community to the first-ever International Students event on March 29.

 Media contact: Colleen Winters, Director of Marketing & Communication, 612-728-5102 or cwinters@smumn.edu