Calvin hosts Chinese, Korean, Japanese student leaders

On August 27, 2010, Calvin College's Asian Studies Program, together with
Calvin’s Center for Christian Scholarship (CCCS), will host a group of 20
Chinese, Korean and Japanese student leaders for a one-day program on campus
and in Grand Rapids.
The five-week long study tour in the United States for the purposes of
studying U. S. foreign policy, is sponsored by the United States-China
Education Trust (USCET) and funded by a grant from U.S. Department of State.
These outstanding East Asian student leaders, Chinese (6), Korean (7) and
Japanese (7), were carefully chosen by the Cultural Affairs Sections of U.S.
embassies and consulates in these countries. Their majors include international
relations, politics, communication, and business administration. Most of the
group's program is in the Washington, D.C. area. During the final ten days, the
students will visit one midwest state, Michigan (Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor),
before concluding their program in San Francisco.
East Asian student leaders will begin their program at Calvin College with a
formal welcome from President Gaylen Byker, via video, and Provost Claudia
Beversluis. The students will then engage in a round-table discussion on Asian
Studies programs at Calvin College, followed by two guest lectures. The first
by Corwin Smidt, executive director of The Paul B. Henry Institute for the
Study of Christianity and Politics, on "Religion, Public Opinion, and Foreign
Policy: What the People of Michigan Offer." The second lecture will be given by
Richard Harms, curator of the Calvin Archives, on the "History of Grand
Rapids." Speakers will emphasize the college's Christian faith and learning
approach to teaching and research, the important history and role of Christian
liberal arts education in American society, and the college's strong Asian
Studies programs.
Following a sit-down lunch with Calvin students, faculty and admissions
personnel at the Prince Center, the East Asian student leaders will receive a
guided tour of Calvin's campus, before heading to the Van Andel Institute in
downtown Grand Rapids for a guided visit, by the facility's Dean of Education,
East Asian scientist, Dr. Brian Cao, and other scientists, who will speak on
the Institute's cancer and other long-term disease research.
The group will move on to visit the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum, take a
walking tour of downtown Grand Rapids led by Richard Harms, and dine at the
University Club. The day-long program finishes with a visit to the Grand Rapids
Art Museum and an outdoor concert on the museum's terrace by An Dro, a
Celtic/eclectic/jazz acoustical assemble.
Religion professor Diane Obenchain is the organizer of the one-day program,
with assistance from English professor Susan Felch (CCCS), Rick Zomer
(Admissions), and Asian Studies department assistant Lisa Bauman.
Contact Obenchain at 616-526-8669 or dbo5@calvin.edu
-end-
Received on Wed Aug 25 12:33:10 2010