Immigrant Success

Your Ethnic Hoosier usually avoids policy, but this comment from Thomas Friedman's column in today's New York Times needs to be shared. As we in the Nationalities Council of Indiana know, the United States is constantly renewed --and improved -- by its immigrants. This says it all:

"Last week, the 32 winners of Rhodes Scholarships for 2011 were announced — America’s top college grads. Here are half the names on that list: Mark Jia, Aakash Shah, Zujaja Tauqeer, Tracy Yang, William Zeng, Daniel Lage, Ye Jin Kang, Baltazar Zavala, Esther Uduehi, Prerna Nadathur, Priya Sury, Anna Alekeyeva, Fatima Sabar, Renugan Raidoo, Jennifer Lai, Varun Sivaram."

Yes, Indiana's winner is Esther O. Uduehi (pictured, at left) of Evansville. Her parents emigrated from Nigeria. A senior at Indiana University, Bloomington, she majors in biochemistry and mathematics. She was also a visiting student at Oxford. A Wells Scholar, Presidential Intern and Senator Richard Lugar Scholar, and a member of Phi Beta Kappa, she is president of the IU Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students. She has won several awards for her research in organic chemistry, and has participated in a U.S.-Russia global health care study program and done research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Esther plans to do the D.Phil. in chemistry at Oxford.

(Photo courtesy of Indiana University Bloomington)

.

Institute for Global Enterprise Programs

Two major speakers are scheduled for November by the Institute for Global Enterprise at the University of Evansville. First up is Thomas Friedman, columnist for The New York Times and author of several books, including The World is Flat and Hot, Flat, and Crowded. He will speak at a noon luncheon 6 November in the Conrad Hotel in downtown Indianapolis and also give a free 7 p.m. lecture that evening in the Centre Auditorium in Evansville.

Dr. Christy Djockoua Manyaka Toko will speak on "International Education and the Bridging of Cultures: The Cameroon Experience" at 7 p.m. 16 November in room 170, Schroeder Family School of Business Administration, University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville. Her presentation, which is free and open to the public, is the keynote address for International Education Week, which is sponsored in part by a grant from the Office of Diversity Initiatives.

Also, Robert Clark, dean of UE’s Schroeder Family School of Business Administration and director of the Institute, will discuss its programs with Indianapolis’s Rotary Club next Tuesday (29 September). UE president, Stephen Jennings, also will attend the meeting at noon in the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Indianapolis.

The Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana is in its sixth year of activity. As an extension of the Schroeder Family School of Business Administration at UE, its strategic focus is the global marketplace with the objective of enhancing the international business knowledge and skills for UE students and faculty, and increasing global competitiveness for Tri-State businesses.

For more information on these events, email or call 812:488-2455.


.

Evansville Greets Tochigi City Delegation

The City of Evansville and Tochigi City, Japan, are marking the 10th anniversary of their Sister City relationship with a series of events. Nearly 60 residents of Tochigi City will arrive in Evansville on Saturday (19 September). Among the delegation is Mayor Yoshiyuki Higano of Tochigi City, who will be visiting Evansville for the first time, along with the Chairman of the Tochigi City Council and other dignitaries.

In addition, four dozen members of the Tochigi City Wind Orchestra will perform two concerts. The first begins at 3:30 p.m. Sunday (20 September) in Neu Chapel at the University of Evansville; admission is free. The second is the TCWO’s performance of “The Orient Express” at the Victory Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Monday (21 September). A large screen behind the orchestra will provide visuals as the music follows the journey of the Orient Express from Istanbul to London. (The TCWO has performed this concert in China as well as in Japan.) For ticket information, go online or call 812: 425-5050.

The relationship between Evansville and Tochigi City began in November 1998, when a delegation from Tochigi City visited Evansville. In April 1999, Mayor Frank McDonald led a delegation to Tochigi City, which was followed by a return visit from Tochigi City in July 1999, led by Mayor Suzuki. It was during this visit that the ‘Sister City Agreement’ was signed by both Mayors. Mayor Weinzapfel first visited Tochigi City in 2005 and then again in 2007.

.

Purdue President to Talk About Things International

Purdue University President France Córdova will speak Tuesday (1 September) to the Rotary Club of Evansville, reports Inside INdiana Business. She will focus on the university's international influence and future initiatives.

.

Evansville Zoo Boosted by Amazonia Exhibit

Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden in Evansville has experienced record attendance this year thanks to the $13 million Amazonia rain forest exhibit, reports Inside INdiana Business. The zoo says 180,857 people visited the zoo in 2008 compared to 140,019 in 2007. So far this year attendance is on a record pace, with more than 129,000 visitors.

.

This Weekend: "All of Evansville is German"

A variety of German food, beer, music and fun will once again be the highlights of Volksfest, which takes place 6-8 August at the Germania Maennerchor, 916 Fulton, Evansville.

The organizers note, "The Volksfest is considered by many to be the one weekend a year where all of Evansville is German. At its peak, close to 14,000 people come to take part in the festival, which spills out of the Maennerchor building to a large outdoor beer garden that's partially covered."

Plate lunches and dinners will be served for $8 per person. Admission is free before 5 p.m., $4 after. Patrons entering after 2 p.m. must be at least 21 years of age.

.

BASi Receives European Patent

West Lafayette-based BASi has received a patent in Europe for a new data collection system designed at its laboratory and office in the United Kingdom, reports Inside INdiana Business.

The patent for the Culex Automated In Vivo Sampling System is valid until 2019 and is effective in Germany, Denmark, France, UK and Sweden. BASi has its corporate headquarters at the Purdue Research Park and also has operations in Evansville.

USI to Hold Discussion on Global Economy

The global economic crisis will be examined next month by an international panel of experts from the University of Southern Indiana, reports Inside INdiana Business.

The open discussion, set for 3 November, is designed to answer people's questions about the possibility of a global recession and the impact of the financial downturn on the Evansville area.

South America Comes to Evansville

"AMAZONIA, Forest of Riches” opens today at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden in Evansville.

Billed as the "largest and most impressive project" in the zoo's 80 year history, the exhibit takes visitors on a journey from high in the the canopy of a South American rainforest to the flooded forest floor below.

Iraqi College Students Will Come to Indiana

Indiana's Manchester College will host one of several Iraqi students being brought to the United States next school year by a group of educators and activists in the U.S. and the Mideast, reports the Associated Press.

The Iraqi Student Project, founded last year, will bring about 20 Iraqi students to 15 American universities to continue their educations.

Three other Indiana institutions -- Holy Cross College and St. Mary's College in South Bend and the University of Evansville -- also are participating.

About 7 percent of Manchester's 1,070 students are from abroad.

Evansville Welcomes Sister City Delegation

A delegation from Tochigi City, Japan arrived in Evansville yesterday to continue the relationship between the sister cities, reports Inside INdiana Business.

It is the first official visit to Evansville by a representatives from the Japanese city since 2002. The ten member group will be officially welcomed this morning during an event hosted by the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville and the Economic Development Coalition for Southwest Indiana.

Former Mexican President Comes to Indiana

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox (left) comes to Indiana for a two-city event on 10 April. First up, an 11:30 a.m. luncheon at the Conrad Hotel in Indianapolis. Then, he'll be in Evansville for two presentations.

Fox leads off the 2008 International Speaker Series sponsored by the Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana at the University of Evansville. His keynote address begins at 7 p.m. in the Victory Theatre in Evansville.

In between the Indianapolis lunch and the 7 p.m. speech, he'll talk to U of Evansville students at 4 p.m. in the Shanklin Theatre, followed by a media presentation there at 4:45 p.m.

For information and tickets for the Victory Theatre presentation, contact Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana, 812:488-2455.

Indiana's International Festivals

Major thanks to the F.C. Tucker Company of Indianapolis for publishing a brochure the Nationalities Council of Indiana has been trying to get funded and printed for decades! "International Festivals", mailed to its extensive list this week, includes details on sixteen different cultural celebrations around the state, from "Taste of Noble County Ethnic Festival" on 17 May in Ligonier to our very own International Festival 20-23 November in Indianapolis (all the festivals -- and more -- are on our calendar). As it says in the brochure, "We embrace our mixture of heritages and ethnicities with annual city festivals that feature crafts, entertainment, demonstrations, parades, and, most of all, food (because Hoosiers have never met a cuisine that wasn't worth celebrating!)." Next time you see a Tucker agent, say thanks!

Festivals included (in chronological order): Taste of Noble County Ethnic Festival (17 May), Dragons on the Ohio (6-7 June), Indiana Highland Games (14 June), International Festival of Arts and Culture (14 June), Oldenburg Freudenfest (18-19 June), Middle Eastern Festival (18-20 June), Swiss Days (24-26 July), Pierogi Festival (25-27 July), Jasper Strassenfest (31 July-3 August), Schweizer Fest (4-10 August), Swiss Wine Festival (21-24 August), Little Italy Festival (29 August-1 September), Greek Festival (5-6 September), Columbus Scottish Festival (13-14 September), Seymour Oktoberfest (2-4 October) and Indy's International Festival (20-23 November). Of course, there are many more ethnic festivals than these in Indiana, but this brochure is a great start!)

Tri-State Mission to Malaysia and Japan

The Institute for Global Enterprise in Indiana and the Tri-State World Trade Council are teaming up with the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC) to provide Indiana and tri-state businesses with a chance to visit some of the most promising markets in the world.

Business executives and city officials will visit Kuala Lumpur, Tochigi (Evansville Sister City) and Tokyo 19-30 May in an effort to identify new business partners.

At each stop, participants will have the opportunity to take advantage of tailored industry briefings, U.S. embassy-sponsored networking events, host country government briefings, site visits and one-on-one meetings customized to each company’s needs.

For information and registration, contact LaSone Gibson, 812:488-2902.