2021 International Student Graduation Reception
Office of Global Strategies
Author
05/07/2021
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Join the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Office of Global Strategies and the Nebraska Alumni Association in celebrating the accomplishments of our incredible 700+ international graduates from May 2021, December 2020 and August 2020. Learn more at https://go.unl.edu/intl2021.
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- [00:00:00.922][Music: There is No Place Like Nebraska, New Bounce]
- [00:01:35.892]Hello, and welcome to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's
- [00:01:38.999]2021 virtual International Student Graduation Reception.
- [00:01:43.340]My name is Josh Davis and I'm the Associate Vice Chancellor
- [00:01:45.060]for global affairs and senior international officer at UNL.
- [00:01:50.330]As we gather today from around the world to celebrate the accomplishments of
- [00:01:53.990]our incredible international graduates in the past year,
- [00:01:57.530]I'm reminded how lucky we are to have a Husker family that stretches across the
- [00:02:01.310]globe. To all of our May 2021 graduates who will officially join that family
- [00:02:06.140]this weekend, and to all of our recent graduates from August and December 2020:
- [00:02:10.730]we're so proud to count you among this family of 200,000 Huskers.
- [00:02:14.840]I want to offer you my sincere congratulations on completing your degree
- [00:02:18.440]here at Nebraska, and know that no matter where you are in the world,
- [00:02:21.410]Nebraska will always be another home to you.
- [00:02:24.320]I know that 2020 was a challenging year as we grappled with the pandemic and the
- [00:02:29.000]reality of not always being able to see each other face to face.
- [00:02:32.600]Some of you may have returned to your home countries earlier than planned,
- [00:02:36.290]and others may have gone longer than expected without being able to see your
- [00:02:39.620]friends and family.
- [00:02:41.420]As I look back at the past year and think about the progress that we've made,
- [00:02:45.050]I'm optimistic about the future because of the resilience and the Husker grit
- [00:02:48.980]each of you have demonstrated through these challenges.
- [00:02:52.370]I hope you're proud of achieving so much in earning your degree in the midst of
- [00:02:56.420]a global pandemic, because it is truly an incredible accomplishment.
- [00:03:01.270]But beyond the challenges that we faced in the last year,
- [00:03:04.090]I'm even more optimistic about the future because of the strong international
- [00:03:08.200]community each of you have helped create at UNL.
- [00:03:11.770]We know you've overcome many obstacles to reach your goal of graduation
- [00:03:15.250]as an international student: traveling to a new country,
- [00:03:18.490]immersing yourself in another language and culture and adjusting to a new
- [00:03:22.570]lifestyle different from where you grew up.
- [00:03:25.240]And in addition to all of these accomplishments,
- [00:03:27.580]you have brought the world to Nebraska in sharing your unique culture.
- [00:03:31.780]You've shaped your university community to be more inclusive and globally minded
- [00:03:36.400]through the organizations that you've engaged with and the initiatives that
- [00:03:39.880]you've led. Earlier in February this year,
- [00:03:42.370]we unveiled the university's first ever institutional
- [00:03:45.332]global strategy, Forward Together.
- [00:03:48.040]As we went through the intensive, year- long process of creating the strategy,
- [00:03:52.090]it was critical that we gathered input from some of our international students
- [00:03:55.930]to hear your voices because you're an important part of our community.
- [00:04:00.130]Your presence on campus, your needs, your engagement -
- [00:04:03.070]we've taken all this into account in our strategy.
- [00:04:05.740]And particularly in Goal 3,
- [00:04:07.600]Bring the Best to Nebraska, because we know how much international students
- [00:04:11.350]enrich our university community.
- [00:04:14.350]This reception is a chance for us to acknowledge all of our international
- [00:04:17.260]graduates in the past year to celebrate your legacy as a Husker and to
- [00:04:22.000]thank your friends and family for the support that they've provided while
- [00:04:25.360]entrusting us with your education. During our time together today,
- [00:04:29.500]we have some guests from across UNL and the Nebraska Alumni
- [00:04:32.890]Association who want to share messages of congratulations with you.
- [00:04:37.090]We've also invited some of your peers to share their own Husker journey and
- [00:04:40.960]photos from their time at Nebraska.
- [00:04:43.420]Finally, we'll recognize each of our more than 700 international graduates at the
- [00:04:47.740]conclusion of our virtual reception.
- [00:04:50.115]Now I'd like to welcome our Chancellor, Ronnie Green,
- [00:04:52.840]to offer his congratulations to each of you
- [00:04:55.269]for your remarkable achievements in the past year.
- [00:04:59.130]To all of our international graduates in the past year,
- [00:05:02.340]congratulations on earning your degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
- [00:05:07.350]We're so grateful and proud of the tremendous impact you've
- [00:05:09.991]had on our campus and our community.
- [00:05:13.410]Each of your unique perspectives have made Nebraska a better place.
- [00:05:18.330]Our international graduates in the last year represent 74 countries and have
- [00:05:23.280]earned 734 degrees across all nine colleges in more
- [00:05:28.110]than 130 majors and specializations. Each and every one of
- [00:05:33.090]you has made a lasting impact on Nebraska and have created friendships
- [00:05:37.710]and professional networks that will last a lifetime. Congratulations
- [00:05:42.330]once again to each of you, and never forget that you have a Husker
- [00:05:47.100]family and second home here. Nebraska is always here to support you in
- [00:05:52.770]your lives, your education and careers. Go Big Red.
- [00:05:59.000]Thank you, Chancellor Green. As you become part of our alumni family,
- [00:06:02.810]I hope that you'll continue to stay engaged with UNL as advocates for the
- [00:06:06.800]university, as supporters of our global strategy and as liaisons to
- [00:06:11.420]future international students. And of course,
- [00:06:14.270]as you pursue your professional career, we'd love to have you back
- [00:06:17.342]in Nebraska for another degree.
- [00:06:20.030]I'd now like to welcome executive director of the Nebraska Alumni Association,
- [00:06:24.140]Shelley Zaborowski, to share her remarks with you.
- [00:06:27.430]Hello, my name is Shelly Zaborowski
- [00:06:29.000]and I serve as the executive director of the
- [00:06:31.690]Nebraska Alumni Association.
- [00:06:34.150]Our mission at the Alumni Association is to keep our alumni and friends connected
- [00:06:38.230]to the university and to one another.
- [00:06:41.230]When you first came to the University of Nebraska, you came as strangers.
- [00:06:45.220]You studied, worked and played as friends. Now, as you graduate,
- [00:06:49.870]you leave as an official member of our Husker alumni family.
- [00:06:53.916]Congratulations!
- [00:06:55.810]You are joining a network of 200,000 alumni from all around the
- [00:06:59.980]world. We want to stay connected to you:
- [00:07:03.280]share your stories with us so that we can use them to inspire current students.
- [00:07:07.930]Help us be our advocates and connect with
- [00:07:09.610]business partners, research partners, and future students.
- [00:07:14.590]And, help recruit more students to attend the university so they can have the same
- [00:07:18.910]wonderful experience. You can connect with us on our website,
- [00:07:23.650]HuskerAlum.org,
- [00:07:25.750]or download the Nebraska Alumni app on the app store.
- [00:07:30.110]After you cross the stage at Commencement,
- [00:07:32.050]you'll have a chance to pick up one of these alumni lapel pins.
- [00:07:35.530]This is our gift to you.
- [00:07:36.970]Take it and proudly show all the world that you're a proud Husker alum.
- [00:07:41.410]Once again, congratulations and welcome to the alumni family.
- [00:07:45.880]Before we continue with the rest of our reception,
- [00:07:48.310]I want to say congratulations once again, to all of our new engineers,
- [00:07:51.910]architects, scientists, artists, journalists, entrepreneurs, teachers,
- [00:07:56.560]and professionals who are ready to create lasting change around the world.
- [00:08:00.370]We're so proud of your accomplishments and trust that your years at UNL prepared
- [00:08:04.750]you to pave the way as future leaders around the world.
- [00:08:08.380]I hope you enjoy the reception.
- [00:08:11.800]We are now thrilled to introduce you to eight incredible international alumni
- [00:08:15.850]from the past year, as they share more about their Husker journey
- [00:08:19.420]and the road ahead.
- [00:08:22.870]My time at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln was dream-like. Irreplaceable.
- [00:08:27.670]Opportunities. Perseverance. Excellence. Rewarding.
- [00:08:31.690]Life changing. Miracle.
- [00:08:34.330]Moving to Nebraska from Colombia was one of the scariest,
- [00:08:37.690]but bravest things I've ever done. But the moment I stepped into Lincoln,
- [00:08:41.500]I knew right there and then that this new journey was going to be what
- [00:08:45.340]I made of it. The first thing that comes to my mind is how at my start,
- [00:08:50.500]I had trouble talking to people outside my comfort zone. After a while,
- [00:08:54.910]one the international students invited me to participate in one of the sports
- [00:08:59.160]clubs at the university.
- [00:09:00.810]I was able to find the confidence in myself, talk with people and also make
- [00:09:05.640]friends from many different countries.
- [00:09:08.300]The summer after my freshman year,
- [00:09:09.980]I had the opportunity to attend a field class at the biological station in
- [00:09:14.300]Ogallala, Nebraska. I had no idea who's going to be there
- [00:09:18.350]and was scared of going alone.
- [00:09:20.220]After a month in Ogallala, making new connections
- [00:09:23.000]and friends, and conducting research and learning more about the course,
- [00:09:27.110]I was so glad I did not give away this opportunity.
- [00:09:30.110]My most memorable moments were during my time at the International Welcome
- [00:09:34.730]team. Not only did we take good care of international students,
- [00:09:39.770]but we also managed to become lifelong good friends.
- [00:09:42.860]My researcher and extension involvement at UNL was one of the most
- [00:09:46.490]transformational experiences I've ever had in my life.
- [00:09:49.970]Because participating in a statewide initiative with more than 100
- [00:09:54.050]cooperators from everywhere really contributed,
- [00:09:57.380]I feel, to my personal and professional growth.
- [00:10:00.410]My proudest achievement at UNL is becoming who I am today.
- [00:10:04.430]All the responsibilities I took up,
- [00:10:06.380]all the opportunities that I work to be qualified for -
- [00:10:09.620]They are the results of UNL showing me that I could do more, be more.
- [00:10:14.810]During my time at UNL,
- [00:10:16.550]I kind co-founded a RSO for
- [00:10:21.110]LGBTQA+ students in business to create a safe space and support.
- [00:10:27.680]It meant a lot to me because during my first year,
- [00:10:31.519]there was no such thing.
- [00:10:33.500]Since its establishment, LGBTQA+ students in business
- [00:10:38.420]are now more welcome and supported, not just here at UNL,
- [00:10:42.710]but also in Nebraska.
- [00:10:44.630]So when I was nominated for the Woman of Courage, Character and Commitment Award,
- [00:10:49.350]it was a huge shock to me because
- [00:10:51.880]I always minimized the work that I'm doing.
- [00:10:55.340]Being selected as a recipient is my biggest accomplishment.
- [00:11:00.740]And it confirms to me that I can see myself doing it for a long time.
- [00:11:05.510]One of my biggest accomplishment at UNL was being nominated by faculty to do the
- [00:11:10.320]speech for the university graduates at the College of Architecture this year.
- [00:11:15.620]I'm so grateful to the faculty who gave me patience in the past years.
- [00:11:20.390]I think the best thing about being a Husker is the fact that you belong to a
- [00:11:23.930]very big family with a very welcoming people. I enjoyed almost everything.
- [00:11:28.730]I had at UNL, but what I liked the most are the people.
- [00:11:33.770]Locals, foreigners, teachers, students, workers, officers:
- [00:11:38.480]they all helped in some aspects.
- [00:11:40.250]The first person I remember meeting at UNL is Anne, my academic advisor.
- [00:11:45.530]I just got off the plane.
- [00:11:46.850]I went from tropical to snowstorm and Anne's was the first face I
- [00:11:51.650]associated with UNL. She has always been friendly, supportive and
- [00:11:56.300]an amazing listener.
- [00:11:58.380]I can't think Dean Kathy Farrell enough for her leadership to emphasize
- [00:12:03.360]the College of Business commitment to inclusive excellence.
- [00:12:07.980]Not to mention the LGBTQA+ resource center and the
- [00:12:12.210]OASIS. Thank you so much for all your support. Without you,
- [00:12:17.160]I won't be where I am today.
- [00:12:19.710]I cannot just thank one person, I have so many people!
- [00:12:24.150]Thank you to everyone who was a part of my journey, especially to Brianne,
- [00:12:29.050]my supervisor; Kaitlyn Waller,
- [00:12:32.040]CUSP Success Navigator. And to everybody else that I met
- [00:12:36.840]along the way. Thinking about my impact at UNL,
- [00:12:40.020]I think sharing my story through Husker dialogues,
- [00:12:42.810]inspired students to pursue what they really want to do
- [00:12:46.001]and build their desired career path.
- [00:12:48.150]One of the ways I believe I have impacted the community at UNL is being an
- [00:12:52.650]active member of New Student Enrollment.
- [00:12:55.080]It was an honor to share my experiences and talk with incoming students,
- [00:12:59.790]whether they're international or domestic students.
- [00:13:02.340]Now that I have graduated from UNL,
- [00:13:05.040]I think my legacy is being visible with those who can't.
- [00:13:09.300]During my junior and senior years,
- [00:13:11.220]I participated in the We Are Nebraska program and Husker Dialogues
- [00:13:16.770]to share my story on diversity and inclusion.
- [00:13:19.950]The best thing about being a Husker is being part of this ecosystem.
- [00:13:24.660]Everything I did, both outside and inside the classroom, were involved with
- [00:13:29.460]students and teachers from all over the world.
- [00:13:32.670]I took this as a huge privilege and I'm really satisfied that I was a part of
- [00:13:37.380]the global community at UNL. Since I first came to UNL in 2017,
- [00:13:42.240]I always felt extremely welcomed by this
- [00:13:45.690]charming and really thriving community.
- [00:13:47.940]The support and the kindness of people from Nebraska,
- [00:13:51.540]it always made it feel like home for me.
- [00:13:54.450]To my fellow graduates, we made it! Really,
- [00:13:59.250]against all odds, the pandemic, the chaos in the world --
- [00:14:03.930]We made it! And that reason
- [00:14:06.060]alone should be a testimony that you can get through anything.
- [00:14:11.970]We will walk on the graduation day
- [00:14:13.793]with heads held high and be proud of ourselves because
- [00:14:16.518]despite all these challenges,
- [00:14:18.486]-- (because we're still in a pandemic) --
- [00:14:20.310]Still, we get to accomplish this degree and move one step closer towards the success.
- [00:14:25.500]We should also never forget to value the things that really matter to us.
- [00:14:29.790]And we have to believe in ourselves to be as strong enough and to be resilient.
- [00:14:35.000]Be proud of who you are and where you come from.
- [00:14:38.220]There is history and pride in you, and no one can tell you otherwise.
- [00:14:42.630]I will be the first generation to graduate from UNL.
- [00:14:46.170]And also the first in my family to graduate from a country outside the
- [00:14:51.140]Middle East. I'm so thankful to my family for their continuous support.
- [00:14:56.450]I'm so happy I came to Nebraska because I have learned not only from
- [00:15:02.660]the books and paper, but also from the people and the lifestyle.
- [00:15:07.160]Graduating from UNL means stepping into a new stage of my life.
- [00:15:11.153]It means success, fulfillment and inspiration for me,
- [00:15:15.220]but also for the ones that came before me and after me.
- [00:15:18.320]Nebraska has helped me accomplish that goal.
- [00:15:20.860]And my goal is to becoming a better version of myself.
- [00:15:23.650]Graduating from Nebraska, for me,
- [00:15:25.930]means belonging forever to a charming and really hard working community.
- [00:15:30.220]It doesn't matter where you go after this.
- [00:15:32.950]I'm still going to be a Husker because Nebraska was my first home
- [00:15:37.900]when I got to the U.S.
- [00:15:39.730]UNL has prepared me well and I'm nervous,
- [00:15:42.700]but eager to take the next step into a new stage of my life.
- [00:15:46.900]I have decided to continue on my master's degree here at UNL in the
- [00:15:51.610]major of community regional planning. In the next year,
- [00:15:55.600]I will pursue a master's degree in economics at either Austin, Texas,
- [00:16:00.545]or Madison, Wisconsin.
- [00:16:02.709]I am very excited to go to Cambridge, Massachusetts
- [00:16:05.494]for my master's in movement and dance therapy with a focus on neuropsychology.
- [00:16:10.180]I really want to use these two passions of mine and integrate them to address
- [00:16:14.800]emotional, cognitive and physical health in individuals.
- [00:16:18.170]My dream job is to become a marketing consultant and have my own agency.
- [00:16:24.130]After graduating from UNL,
- [00:16:25.780]I will be pursuing a dual degree program in doctorate of veterinary medicine and
- [00:16:30.340]master's of public health at The Ohio State University.
- [00:16:34.000]I have accepted an offer to study higher education and student
- [00:16:38.920]affairs at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
- [00:16:43.780]And I'm really excited about that.
- [00:16:46.690]I am currently applying for jobs in the advertising and marketing industry,
- [00:16:51.160]especially in the field of writing.
- [00:16:53.350]After graduating from UNL in August 2020,
- [00:16:56.710]I began pursuing a PhD program at Cornell University in New York.
- [00:17:00.940]And I'm really excited to build on the knowledge I learned at UNL in Nebraska
- [00:17:06.080]and hope to help with my research and extension efforts to sustainable
- [00:17:10.120]agricultural development across the world.
- [00:17:12.910][Vietnamese]
- [00:17:24.280][Kinyarwanda]
- [00:17:33.500][Spanish]
- [00:17:37.380][Malay]
- [00:17:43.060][Mandarin]
- [00:17:47.600][Hindi]
- [00:17:52.400][Arabic]
- [00:17:56.500][Spanish]
- [00:18:18.890]Thank you to those incredible graduates for sharing your stories.
- [00:18:22.700]As we continue to celebrate all of your accomplishments,
- [00:18:25.670]some of our UNL faculty and staff have prepared special messages
- [00:18:29.539]to celebrate your graduation.
- [00:18:31.760]Please enjoy their wishes and a special photo montage from your peers.
- [00:18:37.567]Congratulations to our graduates. We're all so proud of you!
- [00:18:40.790]And what an achievement during such unprecedented times.
- [00:18:43.430]As always, we're proud and Go Big Red!
- [00:19:09.230]You've made it!
- [00:19:10.760]You've given a bit of yourself to Nebraska and now as graduates,
- [00:19:15.740]I hope that you will take a bit of Nebraska and university with you
- [00:19:20.650]wherever you go. Congratulations, and Go Big Red!
- [00:19:55.250]I wanted to congratulate all graduating international students within the
- [00:19:59.120]University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and especially within the
- [00:20:01.860]College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
- [00:20:05.090]This has been an extremely challenging year,
- [00:20:07.520]but you've been able to show your resilience and proven
- [00:20:09.440]that you were able to succeed. So Go Big Red!
- [00:20:43.220]So happy to share the excitement of your graduation day. I'm so very
- [00:20:48.100]proud of you too. I just know life has even more wonderful things
- [00:20:52.900]installed for you. Prayers and blessings on your graduation and for your future.
- [00:21:18.330]Congratulations on all the hard work that you've put into earning your degree.
- [00:21:20.600]And an extra congratulations on finishing your degrees amidst the challenges
- [00:21:24.630]of the past year. Thank you so much for choosing UNL.
- [00:21:27.090]We're lucky to have you as part of our global Husker community.
- [00:21:51.810]I grew up in Bangkok, Thailand. I've studied at UNL.
- [00:21:53.780]So just like you, I am international student graduate.
- [00:21:57.730]Just want to wish you the best of success. And congratulations!
- [00:22:26.880]Congratulations to all of our amazing international student graduates.
- [00:22:31.050]You have done so much to enrich the lives of the students and staff
- [00:22:35.130]working here at UNL.
- [00:22:58.170]I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate all of our international
- [00:23:02.490]students who are graduating in May and who have graduated in the past year.
- [00:23:05.940]It was an honor to have at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
- [00:23:35.310]Congratulations to you all! For the future, stuff as many coping skills as you
- [00:23:40.080]can in your stress management toolbox to prevent burnout.
- [00:24:13.670]Hey, graduates.
- [00:24:15.500]I want to congratulate you on getting your Ph.D.'s or master's degrees from...
- [00:24:23.120](What's the name of the school? I can't remember.) Anyways, congratulations.
- [00:24:28.400]This is a huge step in your life and I wish you nothing but the best.
- [00:24:52.850]I wanted to say congratulations to our graduates.
- [00:24:55.701]You're doing big things.
- [00:24:57.514]Go Big Red!
- [00:25:29.630]Congratulations, everybody!
- [00:25:31.850]I hope you've enjoyed your time here in Nebraska
- [00:25:35.030]and will always feel that this is your second home.
- [00:25:37.970]We will be delighted to welcome you back.
- [00:25:39.980]You'll always be part of the Nebraska family.
- [00:26:01.100]Congratulations to all of our graduating global Huskers.
- [00:26:04.550]I am so proud of each one of you.
- [00:26:06.620]And thank you so much for everything that you have brought to the University of
- [00:26:11.000]Nebraska and to our Lincoln community. You've made a huge impact on my life
- [00:26:16.010]and I am so excited that you've achieved your goal of earning your degree
- [00:26:40.670]I wanted to take a moment and congratulate our international scholars
- [00:26:44.160]on your graduation. I'm so thankful for the time we've had to get to
- [00:26:47.660]know you over these past years. Remember: Go Big Red and Go Big Grad!
- [00:27:20.660]From the staff on the International Student and Scholar Office,
- [00:27:23.720]we want to say to our graduating international students, thank you.
- [00:27:27.620]Our campus is so grateful for your engagement
- [00:27:30.501]and we wish you all the very best in the path ahead.
- [00:27:33.306]Congratulations on graduating!
- [00:27:39.620]Before we conclude our 2021 International Student Graduation Reception,
- [00:27:44.450]we want to emphasize how proud the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is
- [00:27:48.630]of all of you.
- [00:27:49.880]Please take a moment to recognize all of our more than 700 international
- [00:27:53.840]graduates from this past year as each alum name and their degree is shared in
- [00:27:58.670]alphabetical order by commencement cycle.
- [00:33:26.860]Thank you, 6nce again,
- [00:33:28.030]for joining us for our 2021 International Student Graduation Reception.
- [00:33:32.830]We hope you know how proud we are to count you in our Husker alumni family.
- [00:33:37.150]Congratulations once again to each of you. And remember --
- [00:33:40.188]Once a Husker, always a Husker.
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title="Video Player: 2021 International Student Graduation Reception"
allowfullscreen
></iframe>
</div>
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