Launching the New School Year

International Student Welcome Party

Sep 11, 2014

Students from countries as far away as India, China, Kyrgystan, Saudi Arabia, Finland, and Japan joined University of Colorado Denver faculty and staff to celebrate the start of a new school year at the Fall 2014 International Student & Scholar (ISSS) Welcome Party on September 4, hosted by International Student & Scholar Services, Office of International Affairs.

“It was wonderful to see our new students interact with other students and staff in a more relaxed, informal and fun environment,” said Michelle Larson-Krieg, Director of International Student & Scholar Services. “This interaction reinforces the idea that we are here to help them succeed in a number of different ways – with immigration regulations, with finding resources on campus, and with building a social network.”

Almost 100 guests took part in the festivities, which were held at the university’s new, modern 146,000-square-foot Student Commons building. The building is the first newly-built structure at CU Denver that is devoted solely to students—their education, their needs, their success.

Students and staff alike enjoyed refreshments, games, and lively conversations. Groups of students also took advantage of photo opportunities in front of the specially prepared “photo booth” with a globally-themed backdrop. Nathanial Lynch, International Services Specialist, led students in several ice-breaker games to get the crowd moving, laughing,

Bektur Sakiev hails from Kyrgystan and has been earning his master’s in political science at the university’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences during the past year. He enjoyed talking to the new arrivals and sharing anecdotes about “cultural shock experiences that we share when first coming to the United States”. Sakiev couldn’t be happier now that he chose to come to CU Denver.

“I enjoy being a student at the University of Colorado Denver,” said Sakiev. “I like the campus/downtown format of it. I think Denver is a great area and CU Denver represents the best of it (professors, students, staff), as if it collected the best of Denver area on its campus. I feel comfortable and safe on campus and my life here couldn’t be more interesting.”

He also thought that ISSS staff always had a friendly attitude toward international students. “I think it makes transitions and adaptations – cultural, physical, and other – much easier.”

Sakiev chose CU Denver because he wanted to work toward an MA in political science with a focus on public policy.

“Luckily, I discovered the Center for New Directions program that meets my expectations and suits me for 100%. In fact, I wish such programs would be everywhere.”