HOUSTON– For more than 20 years, the Rotary Club of Houston Greenspoint has hosted a dinner honoring International students attending Lone Star College-North Harris as a sign of friendship and goodwill.
We wanted to make sure that we (as Rotarians) welcome international students who came to the United States seeking an education and a future, says Elvin Franklin, long time Greenspoint Rotarian and owner of Elvin Franklins Insurance Agency representing State Farm Insurance. We also encourage the students- who represent a wide-range of countries-to embrace each other as they seek their higher educational objectives and personal goals.
The mission of Rotary International is service-in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Since 1910, The Rotary Motto has been Service Above Self.
This years International Student dinner was located in the colleges student center with key note speaker Nithyanantha Sevanthinathan, director of International Programs and Services for the Lone Star College System.
Sevanthinathan spoke to the students about developing personal and professional networks (such as the Rotarian Clubs), cited personal examples of his own experiences, and encouraged the students to realize they can achieve their dreams.
Currently, Lone Star College-North Harris has an enrollment of 280 international students-representing more than 65 countries. We are thrilled to have such a global community of students on campus each semester, says C.C. Sutphen, LSC-North Harris manager of media relations. The different cultures, views and experience truly add to the wonderful tapestry of our student body.