Study Missouri hosted International Education Day at the State Capitol, April 12th. Four hundred international students from eighty-one countries and twenty-six Missouri colleges and universities were represented this year. The international students were able to view Missouri’s legislative process in action by attending House and Senate sessions, tour the state capitol, and meet personally with lawmakers. Students also attended a luncheon at the Capitol Plaza Hotel. The luncheon program opened with a welcome from Karla McCollum, Chair of Study Missouri and Director of Admissions at North Central Missouri College and presentations from Jeremy Knee, general counsel for the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Senator David Pearce from District 21 in west-central Missouri and Chair of the Senate Education Committee. Senator Pearce has been a long-time supporter of international education in Missouri and Study Missouri. Special recognition was given to Dr. David Russell, who recently retired as Missouri’s Commissioner of Higher Education for his service to the state of Missouri as well as his tremendous support for Study Missouri and Missouri’s International Student programs.
Missouri ranks 12th in the nation for International students attending Missouri’s colleges and universities with almost 22,000 students attending and almost 5,000 Missouri students studying abroad. Study Missouri has been actively promoting International Education in Missouri since 2009.
“The international students who attended this year’s International Education Day showcases the outstanding students studying in Missouri and attests to Missouri’s university’s and college’s commitment to international education. The fact that students from 81 countries can sit down together to enjoy a meal and spend the day together, including students from countries who are in conflict with each other, demonstrates Missouri’s higher education institutions are doing their part to promote global citizenship, cultural understanding, diversity, and global friendship.” stated Karla McCollum, Chair of Study Missouri and Director of Admissions at North Central Missouri College.
Nine North Central Missouri College International students from Curacao and Zimbabwe attended International Education Day 2016 and met with Representative Mike Lair and Senator Dan Hegeman.
