D E C E M B E R / J A N U A R Y 1 9 - 2 0

Hello Winter International Student Services

University of Illinois Springfield

Welcome New Students! We are hoping that our new international students are settling in and are ready for a successful first semester! The Midwest weather was prepared to impress all our students in Springfield. Do not let the

snow discourage you. Be prepared for the weather! The snow is not only beautiful, but it is also fun to play in! Keep your eye’s on Erika’s

Cultural and Educational on the ISS calendar for some adventures outdoors and on campus! Be ready to bust a move this Friday,

January 17, at our welcome party during 5-9 pm at Student Union Ballroom. A great event to meet more pals, we hope you all can make it! ISS is just one call and an e-mail away, if you need anything, let us

know we are always happy to help! You are all welcome here!

I N T E R N A T I O N A L S T U D E N T S E R V I C E S

Staff Rick Lane

Director

Rachael Matingi Immigration Specialist

Tracy Rakes Immigration Specialist

Joel Short Immigration Specialist

Jolene Vollmer Immigration Specialist

Erika Suzuki Program Coordinator Geraldina Mulville Graduate Assistant

Yujia Lei Student Employee

Jiaying Li Student Employee Jennifer Arcos Rojas Student Employee

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From the Director’s Desk

I hope that all of our continuing students have successfully completed their fall courses (not too many pending Incompletes) and have traveled safely to wherever you are spending the winter break. Enjoy the time off

with your friends and/or family or just getting to know other parts of our country. We look forward to welcoming you back in January.

For those coming to UIS to begin your studies in the spring term, we are excited to have you become a part of our community. To help you to

get off to a good start, we will be providing the mandatory new international student orientation all day on January 9. You will learn a lot that day about

how to get what you need at UIS. That means, of course, that you need to arrive some time on January8. If you have not already purchased your plane tickets

and made your housing arrangements, you will want to do that right away.

All of you should check out some of the other events that we have planned for the coming semester and get them on your personal calendars now. Some will be great fun. Others will be necessary learning experiences. All will be worth

the investment of your time and energy.

We are continually updating our website with new information of importance to you. Explore it fully and often. You will find most of your

questionsansweredthereaswellasvaluableguidanceregardingallthemany processes related to maintaining your F-1 non-immigrant status. When you call

our office, the first thing that our advisors will usually ask you is, “are you sitting in front of a computer or have other access to our website.” If the

answer is, “yes,” we will proceed to lead you to the page where the information that you are seeking is located. So, starting there is always the

most efficient way to get a quick answer. Try it.

Our office is closed from the end of the day on December 23 until the morning of January 2. You can leave us voice messages or send email.

Unless there is an actual emergency, we will get back to you on or after January 2. If you do have an actual emergency, please contact the UIS Police

Department. Tell them the nature of your emergency and provide them with your name, UIN, and a means to contact you. They will find a way to get in touch

with us, and we will do all that we can to assist you. Happy Holidays!

Rick Lane

I N T E R N A T I O N A L S T U D E N T S E R V I C E S

D E C E M B E R / J A N U A R Y 1 9 - 2 0

From: Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria Major: Masters in Accountancy Spoken Languages: Yoruba, Pidgin, English What #hashtag best describes you?: #Geek, #LifeOfTheParty #blunt (say it as it is), #SonOfGrace What is your dream job?: My dream job is to work as an information systems auditor/accountant with any of the blue-chip companies

Interest & Hobbies: I love travelling, going on new adventures and trying new cuisine, appreciating new cultures and understanding different perspectives. I play ping pong on a pro level and pool on amateur. I listen mainly to Afropop (a blend of African sound and Hip-hop) music and reggae. I love dancing and hosting events because I am fascinated by people with great ambitions and “go-getters”

What is your favorite movie and why?: 3 Idiots: Asides from its funny contents, the movie highlights a young, smart and humble college student, valuable friendships and promotes practicability in the educational system.

Describe your home country and what you like best about it: Nigeria, popularly known as The Giant of Africa It is a very beautiful place with a lot of talents and natural resources. I love and miss the great weather and food. What do you like best about Springfield? Springfield is a friendly community and it offers a relatively low cost of living Why did you choose UIS?: UIS is a small sized school with an AACSB accreditation for my program. Aside from the fact I got my admission fast, the school representatives were super friendly as they kept me updated with all the information I needed. I also like the GA/ GPSI opportunities. Were you involved in any clubs, organizations, or campus employment while at UIS?: If so, please describe which club, organization, or employment and what you enjoyed or learned.: Yes, I am an active member of the University Bible Fellowship on Campus and the Accounting Students Association. I currently a GPSI, working as an Accountant at the Division of Medical Programs, Healthcare and Family Services. What tips could you offer new students?: Start applications early, connect with current students by looking them up on LinkedIn. This way, you will be able to get better tips. Apply for the GPSI programs. Join campus organizations or societies. I believe getting involved is the best way to network with students and other professionals with your common interest. Get ready to do plenty assignments and quizzes!

I N T E R N A T I O N A L S T U D E N T S E R V I C E S

I nt er na t io na l S t u d e n t S p o t l i g h t

TIMILEHIN ISAAC ADEWUYI

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Marin Luther King Jr. Day January 20, 2020

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated on the third Monday in January, Martin Luther King Day is a national holiday that honors

the United States’ most famous civil-rights activist.The Rev. Dr. King’s peaceful struggle against racial discrimination

came to national attention in 1955, when he led a boycott protesting laws that required blacks and whites to sit in separate sections on buses. He was jailed and physically attacked, and his home was

bombed, but in 1956 the Supreme Court declared such laws unconstitutional.

In 1963, King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech before a quarter million people during the peaceful March on Washington,

D.C. The next year he became the youngest man, at 35, to receive theNobel Peace Prize. He continued fighting for civil rights and against

poverty until an assassin’s bullet ended his life on April 4, 1968.

We commemorate Dr. King's inspiring words because his voice and his vision filled a great void in our nation, and answered our collective longing to become a country that truly lived by its noblest principles. Yet, Dr. King commemorate on this holiday the man of

action, who put his life on the line for freedom and justice every day,

the man who braved threats and jail and beatings and who ultimately paid the highest price to make democracy a reality of all

Americans

I N T E R N A T I O N A L S T U D E N T S E R V I C E S

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Taste of Culture

THREE KINGS DAY "EL DÍA DE LOS REYES"

January 6

At the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas comes a day called the Epiphany, or Three Kings

Day. This holiday is celebrated as the day the three wise men first saw baby Jesus and brought

him gifts. On this day in Spain, many children get their Christmas presents. In Puerto Rico, before children go to sleep on January 5, they leave a box with hay under their beds so the kings will leave good presents. In France, a

delicious King cake is baked. Bakers will hide a coin, jewel, or little toy inside

I N T E R N A T I O N A L S T U D E N T S E R V I C E S

D E C E M B E R / J A N U A R Y 1 9 - 2 0

Ski Trip To

SnoWSTAr Come shred some snow, and join ISA on their ski trip to

Snowstar Winter Sports Park. On January 31, Meet at the TRAC, our trip to and from Snowstar

will last between 6:30 am- 6pm

I N T E R N A T I O N A L S T U D E N T S E R V I C E S

CONGRATULATIONS ON GRADUATING, WE WILL MISS YOU!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM OUR OFFICE TO YOURS

I N T E R N A T I O N A L S T U D E N T S E R V I C E S

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UPCOMING EVENTS January 17- New International Student Welcome Party, Student Union Ballroom, 5 pm – 9pm

January 24- Lunar New Year Celebration, Student Union Ballroom, 5 pm – 7pm January 30 – Tax Workshop – PAC G, 3-4 pm

January 31- Ski trip to Snowstar in Andalusia, IL, Meet at TRAC 6:30 am- 6 pm February 3 – OPT Workshop for Spring 2020 Graduates, 2-4 pm

February 20- International Mother Language Day, STU North Entrance Tables, 11 am – 1pm

March 26 – OPT Workshop for Summer 2020 Graduates, 2-4 pm April 3- Etiquette Dinner Workshop, Student Union Ballroom, 5:30 pm – 7:30pm

May 8- Congratulatory Ceremony, Student Union Ballroom, 2 pm – 4 pm

I N T E R N A T I O N A L S T U D E N T S E R V I C E S