St. Thomas University’s International Student Association will be raising money to fund bursaries at their annual multicultural fair on Feb. 20. More than 25 countries are represented through taste, dance, fashion and art on a night of complete cultural emersion.
Two bursaries valued at $750 each will be granted to two international students at STU based on financial need and academic excellence.
“It is not much, but we know it can mean a lot to two students that are in difficulty,” said Sarah Kam, president of STU’s international student association.
The idea of the STUISA Bursary began last year with one recipient being awarded $500.
Rolando Hernandez, STUISA’s treasurer said “We want to take this amazing idea and make it three times bigger for two international students that need the help.”
St. Thomas University’s Multicultural Fair has become a tradition for Fredericton’s international community. All year, students look forward to showing a little part of their culture and where they come from, either by creating delicious platters, by modeling beautiful gowns, or by dancing to the songs they grew up with.
Once a week, the ten students that make up STUISA get together to plan out upcoming activities. Since November, the main focus of these meetings has been the Multicultural Fair. Meetings can take as long as necessary to plan the final steps of this event.
Each executive of the association is in charge of a specific area of the show. As of now, the association has gathered 27 volunteers that will help out with the logistics of the fair. Monica Paz, an Ecole Sainte Anne student from Honduras was a volunteer last year.
“Being part of the Multicultural Fair was very fulfilling. You get to learn about other cultures and try foods from all over the world.”
She said one of her favorite things about the fair was internationals and Canadians participated together in the execution of the event.
The association expects to fill in every one of the 386 seats of the Kinsella auditorium as it did last year.
