June 2007

VIU's May 25, 2007 Commencement a Hit!

Virginia International University 's 2007 commencement ceremony was held with great success on May 25, 2007. More than 200 honorees, family members, and friends attended the event including several embassy representatives, Supervisor Gerald Connolly (Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors) and Delegate David Bulova (Virginia State Assembly). According to Dr. Isa Sarac, founder and president of VIU, “Commencement was a beautiful evening in every way. We couldn't be more proud of our students, who have worked so hard and accomplished so much”.

Graduates of Virginia International University 's Business Programs Department await their degree conferral at the university's commencement ceremony at the Country Club of Fairfax on May 25.

Thirty-eight academic students who completed the university's business and computer science programs were awarded diplomas and certificates at the ceremony. An additional 30 English as a Second Language students also received certificates of completion.

Dr. Thomas R. Morris, Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia delivered the commencement address and stressed the importance for graduates to have a social conscience.

From L to R: Dr. Necmi Mutlu (Chair, VIU Computer Programs), Dr. Thomas R. Morris (Secretary of Education, Commonwealth of Virginia), Dr. K. Habib Khan (VIU Provost) and Dr. Isa Sarac (VIU President) share a moment at Virginia International University's 2007 Commencement on May 25.

He urged the honorees to commit to a lifetime of volunteerism, to seek ways to serve others throughout their lives, and to develop a vision for the future to guide them. He added that Virginia International University is a small start-up university today but that he believes it has the potential to become a major player in the future.

Dr. B. B. Sahay (l) accepts a $5,000 check from Mr. Ajaz Siddiqi and other representatives of United Central Bank to establish the James Yoo Scholarship.

Ajaz Siddiqi, Vice President of United Central Bank also participated in the ceremony by awarding a $5,000 check on behalf of his bank to VIU to establish the James Yoo Scholarship. This scholarship, named for the founder and president of United Central Bank, will be awarded to deserving VIU students on the basis of academic performance and potential.

VIU Business Students Compete for Top Prizes

Professor Karen Smaw's Introduction to Business students held VIU's first Business Plan Competition in spring 2007. A panel of four judges representing the business community evaluated 25 students participating in 11 teams.

Says Professor Smaw, “The students did a wonderful job, not only in preparing their business plans, but in presenting themselves and their ideas in front of a professional panel.”

Mert Gocer and Manish Pokhrel won first place in the competition, and a $100 gift card. Second place and a $75 gift card went to Cecelia Venson and Yobi Park. The third-place distinction and $50 gift card went to Abhipraya Subedi and Roshni Rai.

Aloha! Students Let Loose at Second Annual Spring Luau on April 24

What happens when you combine colorful Hawaiian leis, hula hoops, a limbo pole, 175 Hebrew National hotdogs and a recording of Tiny Bubbles? You have an absolute ball! At least that's what VIU students did at the second annual spring luau on April 24.

Marketing manager Tina Segismundo demonstrates and teaches others to hula dance at VIU's April 24 luau.

According to English Professor Laura Hills , Executive Director of University Advancement who organized the event celebration, “A luau is a fun American celebration and our international students just love it!” Several members of VIU's support staff helped make the event special. Marketing Manager Tina Segismundo once again thrilled the crowd with her expert demonstration of hula dancing while DSO/ESL instructor Alexa Donato kicked off the hula hoop competition. Robin Leon (ESL instructor/DSO) and Amy Jordan (admissions assistant) pitched in by meeting students at the door to the Waples campus with a traditional Hawaiian lei greeting.

VIU President Isa Sarac, who graciously held the limbo pole for the students once again, declared the luau an unequivocal success. According to Dr. Sarac, “The spring luau is a sure sign of spring at VIU. I wouldn't miss it for the world.”

Al Capone, Tiger Woods, Marilyn Monroe “Visit” VIU at Annual American Culture People Fair

Students in Mr. John Bennett 's ESL 316: Introduction to American Culture class pulled off the annual American Culture People Fair on April 26 with tremendous style and flair. To prepare for the event, each student in the class chose one famous American to study and created a three-panel display board about him or her. The students set up their boards on the day of the fair in the common area at the Pender Drive campus building and stood beside them in the character of the famous Americans they had studied.

Students in the morning ESL classes then visited the fair and had a wonderful time seeing the colorful displays and interviewing famous Americans including Tiger Woods, Marilyn Monroe, Al Capone, Sacagawea, and Muhammad Ali. According to Mr. Bennett, the students in his class had a fabulous time learning about famous Americans, getting into character, and sharing with others what they had learned. Everyone who attended the fair learned a great deal, too, he says. Mr. Bennett adds, “All of the students did great, but Batmunkh Namsrai really stole the show as Al Capone. The gangster hat and toy machine gun Bat used for his character captured everyone's imagination.”

Mr. John Bennett with ESL 316 students show off their display boards for the annual American Culture People Fair on April 26.