April 2007

VIU's March 23 Business Networking Mixer a Hit! Another VIU First

Virginia International University hosted its first International Food Business Networking Mixer at its Waples Mill campus on March 29, 2007 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. “This spectacular after-work function brought together great food from around the world and leaders from the Northern Virginia business community,” explains VIU president, Dr. Isa Sarac . VIU invited both established and new friends to the networking mixer, including members of VIU's Development Committee, several area Chambers of Commerce, the Fairfax Rotary Club, and other Northern Virginia business entities.

According to Sebastien Mortreux , VIU's Director of Marketing who has helped plan the mixer, “About 60 local business leaders participated in this program”. The networking mixer was held at VIU's new Waples Mill campus which is located right off Route 66 and Route 50 near Fair Oaks Mall. Says Mortreux, “There was no cost to participate in the event and we had plenty of great food and free and convenient parking steps from our front door”.

From L to R: Shirley Luu (Executive Field Chairman, World Leadership Group), Sebastien Mortreux (Director of Marketing, VIU), Martha Benjamin (Owner, MBI Insurance Agency), and Professor Laura Hills (Chair, General Studies Department, VIU) take a moment to celebrate the American Express gift certificate Martha Benjamin won at VIU's Business Networking Mixer on March 23.

Mortreux reports that VIU offered a limited number of tables at the function on a first-come, first-served basis for businesses that wished to create a display to promote their products and/or services, and that these were hugely successful. Adds President Sarac, “We are all very excited about the tremendous response to our first International Food Business Networking Mixer and are confident that this will be the first of many such events”.

From L to R: Amy Jordan (Administrative Assistant, VIU), Jennifer Miller (Budget Analyst, Fairfax County Department of Management and Budget), and VIU President and Founder Dr. Isa Sarac are all smiles at VIU's Business Mixer.

Air and Space Museum Trip Wows ESL Students

About 40 Virginia International University English as a Second Language (ESL) students and their instructors took the Smithsonian Mall by storm on March 29 for the term field trip to the National Air and Space Museum . Karin Sandler , Associate Chair of the General Studies Department, planned the trip itinerary and arranged for docent tours of the popular museum. Says Sandler, “We were very fortunate to have beautiful weather the day of the trip,” the first trip many of VIU's foreign students have made to beautiful Washington, D.C. “You could just feel the excitement in the air,” Sandler adds.

Laura Hills , Chair of the General Studies Department, says she looks forward to taking students to D.C. each semester. According to Hills, “I wish you could see the look on students' faces when we step out of the metro station and emerge onto the Smithsonian Mall. Nothing can prepare a foreign student for the grandeur and scale of our nation's capital”. Students and faculty enjoyed a one-hour tour of the museum and marveled at the collection of spacecraft and aircraft. Says Hills, “I had no idea that Sputnik was so small!” Many trip participants opted to see the IMAX film To Fly, which was another first for many students.

VIU ESL students had a blast at the National Air and Space Museum on the Smithsonian Mall on March 29.

VIU Idol: Students Sing Their Way to VIU Fame

Watch out Simon, Randy, and Paula! VIU has singing superstars of its own and held its first VIU Idol competition on March 8.

Four VIU students – Sarah Tosyali , Roshni Rao, Sanjay Sunam, and Sandeep Maskey competed for Fair Oaks Mall gift cards while impressing audiences with their vocal range, stage presence, and showmanship.

Tina Segismundo , Irina Nichita , and Laura Hills served in the roles of Randy, Simon, and Paula respectively, and offered post-performance feedback to each contestant. According to Segismundo, “It takes tremendous courage to get up and sing in front of all of your classmates and instructors. Our contestants were very impressive”. Nichita admits that she had difficulty emulating Simon's biting criticism. Nonetheless, the audience was amused by her kinder and gentler impersonation of the man everyone loves to hate.

VIU Idol judges and contestants gather to celebrate the moment. From L to R: Professor Laura Hills, Roshni Rao, Sarah Tosyali, Irina Nichita, Sanjay Sunam, First Prize Winner Sandeep Maskey, and Tina Segismundo.

The VIU Idol grand prize was a $100 gift card. The winner, determined by audience vote, was Sandeep Maskey, who sang and played his own guitar accompaniment to “Leaving on a Jet Plane”.

Says Hills, “I had the chance to hear Peter, Paul, and Mary perform this beautiful song in a concert many years ago, and I enjoyed it. It's a great tune. However, I thought Sandeep brought more personality and feeling into his performance. He and all of our contestants are so incredibly talented.”