Colton Comiskey, from Forest Hills Central High School, center, plays
a game of Guess Who? with other high school students during the Global
Language and Culture Festival March 20 in the Kirkhof Center.
Photo Credit:
Kendra Stanley-Mills
Brooke Osborn, a senior illustration major, does a traditional belly
dance during the Global Language and Culture Festival. Osborn is a
member of Grand Valley’s Belly Dance Club. “Every belly can dance is
our motto,” she said.
Photo Credit:
Kendra Stanley-Mills
Union High School sophomore Andrew Valdez, center, attends the Global
Language and Culture Festival with classmates. Valdez is currently
studying French in high school.
Photo Credit:
Kendra Stanley-Mills
Union High School students Halima Suleiman, left, and Tyies Kemp pose
for a photo with fans during the Global Language and Culture Festival.
Photo Credit:
Kendra Stanley-Mills
Lenka Fific, an international relations major, laughs while playing a
game of t+ jian zi (Chinese hacky sack) during the Global Language and
Culture Festival.
Photo Credit:
Kendra Stanley-Mills
The Modern Languages and Literatures Department welcomed about 300
high school world language students to the Allendale Campus recently
to explore languages and cultures and find out what Grand Valley has
to offer.
The first Global Language and Culture Festival at the Kirkhof Center
offered a variety of activities and events as well as opportunities to
learn more about GVSU, said Janel Pettes Guikema, department chair.
Students from the Grand Rapids, Forest Hills, Kenowa Hills and
Rockford school districts visited.
"Students were able to connect with GVSU faculty and students
and learn about global cultures, study abroad and the many benefits of
multilingualism," Guikema said. "Language teachers in West
Michigan have expressed interest in this type of opportunity for
years, and their immediate feedback from the festival was extremely
positive, with requests to make this an annual event."
Attendees watched performances, participated in a shadow puppet show,
played games, went on a campuswide scavenger hunt and enjoyed fare
from food trucks, among other offerings.
The students also learned more about language programs at GVSU,
completed language-proficiency checks at the Language Resource Center
in Mackinac Hall and went on campus tours led by Admissions staff,
Guikema said.
The event was sponsored by MLL, Classics, the College of Liberal Arts
and Sciences and Area and Global Studies.
Opportunities to participate in Juneteenth, Pride Month and the Black Boys and Men Symposium strengthen our commitment to an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere through our active efforts to create a sense of belonging.