The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) celebrated its graduating students on Friday during a graduation celebration in the Memorial Union.
Featuring graduates from undergraduate, masters and doctoral programs, who represent countries around the world, the ceremony highlighted the accomplishments and future plans of Iowa State’s international students. Graduates were encouraged to invite family and friends to attend the ceremony.
Jenna Haffner, the international student engagement coordinator, said around 96 students signed up for the celebration, making it one of the most attended celebrations since they started working for the ISSO in 2022.
“It’s been absolutely wonderful,” Haffner said. “I was fully tearing up during the graduation speech… It just means so much to me that they cared to come and celebrate with us and let us be a part of this.”
Haffner also shared a message for international students at Iowa State seeking support from ISSO.
“ISSO is a place, it’s a home for you.” Haffner said. “It’s a home for you to come away from home and be able to connect to people from the same culture, from different cultures… I’m just really happy that I get to meet so many new students all the time. It’s my favorite part of my job.”
After the ceremony, attendees were invited to celebrate in the Great Hall and were treated to refreshments.
Mohammad Al-Daraghmeh, a doctoral student in the department of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, is from Jordan. He shared his experience with seeking support through ISSO.
“You can make your friends, you can meet people from other cultures, eat amazing food from different cuisines,” Al-Daraghmeh said. “It’s a very good opportunity for [international students] to make connections, understand other things, people, and other cultures.”
Al-Daragmeh plans to go back to Jordan to work as a faculty member at a university.
Jai-Le Simmons, an undergraduate senior in supply chain management and international student mentor at ISSO, is from The Bahamas and also delivered a speech for her peers at the celebration. Simmons shared her experience being part of ISSO.
“It really gave me a sense of belonging and helped me find my community from my first week here to right now,” Simmons said. “I felt like it helped me and impacted a lot of other students as well.”
Simmons also shared a message for other international students, incoming or current, who are seeking support.
“Just be willing to step out of your comfort zone,” Simmons said. “Stuff will always work out… Embrace where we are right now because I know a lot of people don’t tend to be happy or living in the moment with what’s going on right now.”
For more information about ISSO and resources for international students, visit their website.
