Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: News

Eastern Global Ambassador, Lasun Emiola, Ph.D., shares memories of his experience at Eastern after recieving his award at the 2007 International Alumni Reunion. Taylor Thompson/The Daily Eastern News

For international students, Eastern becomes a home away from home when they leave their native countries.

International alumni who still consider Eastern to be their second home came back for the First International Alumni Reunion weekend that took place Friday and Saturday.

Eleven distinguished international alumni were honored as Eastern Global Ambassadors.

Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the global ambassadors were pioneers for other international students on campus.

"It's a form of class pride and globalization for their arrival here tonight," Lord said. "Because of (international students') initiative and difference, they greatly alter our community."

Sylvia Nunez Jerdan, a native of Peru, was 11 when she first came to Mattoon. Later, she was able to attend Eastern through its international student scholarship program.

Jerdan attributed her happiness at Eastern to Eulalee Anderson, retired international student adviser, who made Jerdan's time at Eastern "unforgettable."

"She was not only an adviser, but also a mother figure to us," Jerdan said. "Thanks to Mrs. Anderson, we had a social life at school."

Jerdan remains a Mattoon resident and has a family in America. She and her family still cherish their Peruvian culture and the success Eastern has given them.

"I'm glad to have stayed close to the university, and am very honored and surprised to receive the global ambassador award," Jerdan said.

Unlike Jerdan, not all international students remain in the United States after college.

Lasun Emiola, a Nigeria native who attended Eastern in the 1973-74 school year, was one of the first international students from Nigeria at Eastern.

In honor of the global ambassador award, Emiola said he had no objections to return from Nigeria to attend the reunion.

"How exactly I first chose Eastern, I don't know," Emiola said. "They offered me the right price, and after I got here, I've had no regrets."

Being immersed in a different culture taught Emiola there was more to life than his native village.

"I knew things existed outside of Nigeria, but they still weren't real to me," Emiola said. "Eastern allowed me to meet people of different cultures and see life greater."

Emoila said the privilege to come back to Eastern has been one of his greatest achievements.

Former staff members, administrators and advisers were also named for their contribution to strengthening Eastern's international students programs.

Fact box:
Global, Ambassadors Native Country
Tope Adeyemi-Bello: Nigeria
Nanditha Balasubramanian: India
Kailas Chinta: India
Lansun Emiola: Nigeria
Sylvia Nunez Jerdan: Peru
Eijke Charles Igboegwu: Nigeria
Sundeep Oberoi: India
Margaret Mwale: Zambia
Alaba Obiri: Nigeria
Nicholas Obiri: Nigeria
Sesan Kim Sokoya: Nigeria

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