UHV International Night to raise funds for student programs
University of Houston-Victoria students and community members have a chance Saturday to get a taste of international culture as part of a fundraising event.
The UHV Office of International Programs and the International Students Organization are hosting International Night, a fundraising event that will benefit the student organization and its goal to do more community outreach.
“As international students, we are very passionate about having an impact on others,” said Loveth Ohenhen, a UHV graduate student from Nigeria and president of the student organization. “We have a list of things we want to do, and we’ll see where we can start after the fundraiser.”
International Night will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday in the UHV University North Multi-Purpose Room, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St. The event will wrap up UHV’s International Education Week programs, which is featuring daily displays in Victoria and Katy with food and information about different countries.
International Education Week is a national collaboration between the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Department of Education. The groups partner with universities across the nation to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences.
“It’s been amazing to see our international students come together and create a shared vision,” said Ludmi Herath, UHV International Programs director. “They have created a positive presence that is shared between international students, U.S. students and even some of UHV’s faculty members from other countries. This group has come a long way, and I am excited to see where it is going next.”
The fundraiser will feature a dinner featuring cuisine from at least seven countries and several other options for dessert. Entertainment for the evening will include a fashion show, cultural displays and a performance from Zainab El-Yahubu, one of UHV’s international students from Nigeria, who will sing and play guitar.
Funds from the event will be put toward the student organization’s community outreach projects. The first UHV project students want to help is JP’s Market, an on-campus food pantry that serves UHV and Victoria College students. Community project ideas include offering cultural outreach programs for kindergarten through high school students. Possible international projects include donating books to an overseas school or sponsoring an orphanage.
“We are all passionate about doing things to help others,” Ohenhen said. “We have big goals for this fundraiser. Once it’s done, we will meet and decide what our first step will be for future service projects. Even if it’s just a small step, we are eager to get involved.”
Sponsorships to support the International Night still are available. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for students. Children 4 and younger can attend for free.
To find out more about the event or to purchase tickets, contact Ohenhen at ohenhenl@uhv.edu or the UHV International Programs Office at 361-570-4106 or international@uhv.edu.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
