May 10, 2007
UW Bothell to hold sixth annual Intercultural Night May 12
The UW Bothell will host its sixth annual Intercultural Night from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 12 at the North Creek Events Center. The event, open to the public, is a celebration of the diverse cultures on campus. Each year, 250 faculty, staff, students and community members gather to watch music and dance performances by UW Bothell international and immigrant students, enjoy a dinner buffet, and participate in a silent art auction.
The dinner buffet features international cuisine from several local restaurants, showcasing food from the home countries of UW Bothell international students. The performers are students from the three UW campuses, as well as various local community colleges. Guests are encouraged to come wearing traditional dress.
During the dessert intermission, guests may participate in a silent auction and bid on art items from around the world. Most are donated by UW Bothell international alumni, and some are from local art galleries and shops, as well as from faculty and staff members. Proceeds from the silent art auction are used to fund the UW Bothell International and Immigrant Student Scholarship. The scholarship was created in 2002 by International Student Advisor Natalie Lang and students in the Intercultural Club. Each year, three scholarships are given. In 2006, over $3000 was raised at the silent auction to fund these scholarships.Recipients of this year’s scholarships are honored at the event.
The scholarships are open to UW Bothell international students (students studying in the U.S. on various types of visas) and to immigrants (permanent residents) who have immigrated to the U.S. within the past five years. Many other scholarships require the applicants to be residents or citizens of the U.S. and international students are not eligible for federal student aid. These scholarships were created to support cultural and international exchange by helping these students cover tuition costs, and honoring the significant contributions they make to the culture of the UW Bothell campus.
Applicants are asked to submit an essay outlining how studying and living in more than one country has affected their ideas about global understanding. They are also asked to include information on their local or global community service, and letters of recommendation. Scholarship winners and their families or host families are given complimentary tickets to Intercultural Night and the winners are honored at the event.
The fundraising goal for the 2007 event is $4,000. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for the general public.
