MC Hosts International Festival on March 7

Traditional Chinese dance, martial arts, calligraphy and a fashion show are part of an International Festival coming to Mississippi College next month.

A number of other performances by MC's international students are booked for the March 7 event. The evening program at Swor Auditorium is being staged at a Baptist-affiliated school where international student enrollment is booming.

There were nine international students enrollment when President Lee Royce arrived in 2002 and there are 330 students today from nearly two dozen nations. MC operates a recruiting office in China and enrolls 150 Chinese students on the Clinton campus. MC is hoping to raise $3 million to create a new international center as part of its $65 million "Growing the Vision" campaign for scholarships, academic needs and building projects.

Beginning at 6 p.m., the ninety-minute festival is free and open to the public. The program is designed to show off the multi-cultural aspects of MC and spread the message to the Clinton community and beyond. Refreshments will be served in the lobby of Nelson Hall immediately following the show.

MC officials are hoping to make this an annual event to showcase the talents of the school's students from around the globe, from France to India to China.

"I am so impressed by the multitude of talents that our international students bring to the campus community," said Ron Howard, MC's vice president for academic affairs. "Their very presence immensely enhances the educational experience at MC, where students experience first-hand the cultural diversity of our nation and our world!"

Last year, MC held an Indian festival to spotlight the culture of students from India, and also scheduled a spring festival for Asian students. MC also sends its students to 11 nations in study abroad programs.

Preparation for next month's festival has begun. Applications for students interesting in performing are available through Feb. 15 at the MC international center. For more information, contact Carrie Lassetter, programs coordinator at the international center, at 601-925-7705 or at Lassette@mc.edu

PHOTO: Pictured are some of MC's 330 international students who come from nearly two dozen nations.