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Lander to Welcome Students from Six Continents

new international students
New international students at Lander gather for an orientation meeting with university officials. Front row, from left, Jeff Constant, director of International Student and Scholar Services; Harl Goplerud, Lander Dining Services; Eddie Briggs, Lander Police Department; State Sen. Floyd Nicholson, Greenwood; university president Dr. Daniel Ball, and Dr. Sung-Jae Park, dean of International Programs.

Lander University welcomed nearly 60 international students when it opened its doors for the fall semester on Sept. 1. The students are from 23 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and two are from Australia and four from Canada.

For the first time, four students from South Korea are attending classes at Lander under terms of agreements university president Daniel Ball signed earlier this year with the presidents of their universities in Korea. The four students are enrolled for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Many of the internationals at Lander are student-athletes. Nine are from England, seven from France and five each from Brazil and Sweden. The others are from Argentina, the Bahamas, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Nigeria, the Philippines, Scotland Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, South Africa and. Zimbabwe,

Ball met recently with 25 international students who are new to the Lander campus. He told them, "We are really glad you are here. Our students from South Carolina and other states can learn from you. You make our lives richer."

South Korea native Dr. Sung-Jae Park, Lander's dean of International Programs, told the students, "I've been in your position, away from home. We are here to help you."

The group also heard from representatives of the university's Student Wellness and housing offices, Dining Services and Lander's Police Department.

Jeff Constant, Lander's former director of Student Activities who was recently named International Student and Scholar Services director, led the orientation.