EUGENE–Fifteen University of Oregon students received 2001 OIEE International Student Awards in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the university and community during the annual Family Weekend All-University Awards Luncheon on May 19.

Claudia Ciobanu and Daniel Valle received the Outstanding International Student Award and 13 other students received International Student Merit awards.

Winners of this year’s merit awards are Yu Bai, Amanda Burr, Ana Cristina Gonzales, Mari Kugoh, Collins Makunda, Karen Myhr, Ngoc Nguyen, Jane Njoora, Rux Prompalit, Suvimol Sathan-Art, Shruti Shah, Susan Verscheure and Xing "Julia" Wu.

Each spring, the Friendship Foundation for International Students and the Office of International Education and Exchange (OIEE) recognize students who have made outstanding contributions to the university and local community. The awards are based on the students’ success, leadership skills, and campus and community involvement.

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Claudia Ciobanu, one of the Outstanding International Student Award recipients, is a senior advertising and business administration major with a perfect academic record from Bucharest, Romania.

Ciobanu has served the campus and community in numerous ways. Besides enriching the campus with her cultural heritage, she has participated in International Student Week activities, provided resident hall leadership, belonged to Mortar Board and served in student government. "Claudia provides an endless amount of energy and time to an amazing range of international student events," a professor said of her. "It seems that no matter where I go, Claudia is there, providing boundless amounts of enthusiasm and organizational skill."

Daniel Valle, also an Outstanding International Student Award recipient, is a senior ethnic studies and Spanish major from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Valle serves as the international student advocate with the Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO) Executive Office and is the Erb Memorial Union (EMU) programs representative on the EMU Board of Directors. He also chairs the International Student Leader Council and is the ASUO representative on the International Resource Center Advisory Board.

The 13 recipients of International Student Merit awards include:

• Yu Bai, a sophomore pre-business administration major from the Dalian, China is co-director of the International Student Association, a member of the International Resource Center Advisory Committee and a member of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association. She also maintains an excellent academic record, belongs to Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional business fraternity, and is the recipient of numerous awards and a participant in the International Cultural Service Program.

• Amanda Burr, a junior business administration major from Kent, England, is co-director of the European Student Association, credited with re-establishing the group in winter 2000, and was co-director of International Week 2000. She serves on the Oregon University System Health Insurance Task Force and the UO Student Health Center Advisory Committee. In addition, she has been involved with the Diversity Team and International Student Orientation, and she was a Special Olympics volunteer.

• Ana Cristina Gonzales, a master’s degree student in piano pedagogy with a flawless academic record from Santa Fe de Bogota, Colombia, is a recipient of the Merit Fellowship Award for Excellence in Music Research and Scholarly Activity. She is developing a bilingual video to teach young piano students how to practice, mentors piano students and teaches young students at the university’s Community Music Institute. She also represented the University of Oregon at the 2000 World Piano Pedagogy Conference.

• Mari Kugoh, a senior student majoring in educational studies from Yokohoma, Japan, blends her academic studies and personal interests around the lives of children. She interned at Birth to Three as an assistant parent educator and at the Pearl Buck Center as a pre-school teacher to children whose parents have developmental disabilities. Her involvement with Holt International Children’s Services led to a volunteer experience with orphans in Thailand and to research on international adoption issues.

• Collins Makunda, a master’s degree student in interior architecture from Nairobi, Kenya, is fund-raising chair and a member of the American Society of Interior Designers and belongs to the International Interior Design Association. He also has served as treasurer of the African Students Association, has been an International Student Orientation group leader each year, and participates in the Eugene Celebration parade and International Night.

• Karen Myhr, a senior psychology major of 1803 Beech Dr., Great Falls, Mont., is minoring in Scandinavian studies and studied abroad for a year in Denmark. She volunteered for the Lane County Juvenile Justice Center, worked with children at the WomenSpace shelter and volunteered as a soup kitchen assistant. She also has been a note-taker for Disability Services, an International Student Orientation leader, an Associated Students of the University of Oregon intern for non-traditional students and co-president of the Psychology Honor Society.

• Ngoc Nguyen, a sophomore pre-business administration major, is from Hanoi, Vietnam. She worked for Holt International Service Program as a translator of English and Vietnamese, and with American families who have adopted Vietnamese children. She taught the children many of the Vietnamese games and songs that they might otherwise not have learned. Her on-campus activities have included Vietnamese language teaching, International Cultural Service Program participation, serving as a program assistant for University Housing and the International Student Association, and activities with the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity.

• Jane Njoora, a doctoral degree student in educational policy and management from Nairobi, Kenya, is a wife and mother of two. When a young Kenyan student drowned last year, Jane helped to raise $10,000 on the family’s behalf. She continues to serve in-coming African students by responding to their issues and providing comfort and leadership. She has participated in the International Cultural Service Program, is a supervisor of graduate teaching fellows in special education, is an active member of women’s and student groups on campus, and was recognized as an International Peace Scholar.

• Rux Prompalit, a doctoral degree student in educational policy and management from Chiang Mai, Thailand, has been a leader and organizer in the Thai Student Association; a leader in his graduate student organization; and an invaluable resource in the orientations for students preparing for study in Thailand, and for International Student Orientation. Also a computer lab coordinator and lab assistant for the Yamada Language Center and the American English Institute, he, his wife Pan and their two children enrich the Eugene/Springfield community with their participation in the Eugene Celebration, the Asian Celebration and Habitat for Humanity.

• Suvimol Sathan-Art, a senior majoring in business administration from Nonthaburi, Thailand, was a head cook for International Night and builder of the backstage set. Also a mentor, peer assistant and Freshman Interest Group leader, she was president of the UO chapter of Golden Key International Honor Society and in that capacity organized many community service projects. She volunteered in the Office of International Education and Exchange, for International Student Orientation and with the International Business Communication Program.

• Shruti Shah, a senior majoring in computer and information science of 13089 N.W. Saltzman Court, Portland, is originally from India. She was production coordinator for the Diwali Celebration and for last year’s Utsav (South Asian Culture Night.) After the recent earthquake in India, Shah contributed her time and effort for earthquake relief. Her leadership activities include her tenure as president of the Students of the Indian Subcontinent, co-head of International Night, activities coordinator for Alpha Lambda Delta/Phi Eta Sigma honors societies, and co-editor-in-chief of the Scroll.

• Susan Verscheure is a doctoral student in exercise and movement science from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. She is described as an outstanding teacher who uses innovative methods to win the admiration of students and peers. Her community outreach efforts are shown through her involvement in the International Institute for Sport and Human Performance and the Athletic Training Center. Through the Career Med "Success in the Middle" program, she gives talks to students in local science classes.

• Xing "Julia" Wu, a senior in business administration from Liuzhou, China, has worked at the EMU administration office and served as director of the Chinese Student and Scholar Association while maintaining her status on the Deans’ List. She recognizes the value of working with other international student groups to promote events that introduce the Chinese language and culture to the community. Wu demonstrates her interest in international finance through her participation in such groups as the Golden Key International Honor Society and the UO Finance Club.

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