On Wednesday, April 17, 2019, OISS hosted the annual Globie Awards Ceremony & Reception.
Every spring, OISS recognizes a few members of the MSU community who make a special effort to serve international students, scholars and their families with a Globie Award.
When OISS asked for nominations for the Globie Awards this year, the form encouraged nominators to share details about how they know this person and about their specific acts of service. OISS asked them to share the most impactful and inspiring interactions they have had with this person – and inspiring is the best word to describe the stories they told!
This year’s class of Globie winners represents faculty, staff, and students at MSU. These extraordinary members of the MSU community have served international students in a variety of ways – from advocating for better career opportunities, to sitting by their hospital bed during crisis surgery, to being a friendly, welcoming presence day-by-day in the office, classroom, research lab or barn.
Part of the Globie Awards tradition is to capture the stories of the winners on video, so their stories can be told to a wider audience — including you!
Asif Iftekhar, Sophomore, Computer Science
Our first Globie winner is one of two undergraduate students to win a Globie Award in the past six years! Asif Iftekhar, an international undergraduate student from Bangladesh, is a fantastic example of making the most of the opportunities you have. Only in his second year at MSU, Asif is already involved in student government, international cultural organizations, the Global Spartan Leadership Program, and many other activities. Asif was nominated specifically for his work on advocating for the Economics major to be considered a STEM field, for the purpose of improved work authorization opportunities for international students. Learn more of Asif’s story in his interview. 
Cindy Walter, Academic Advisor, Department of Linguistics and Languages
The next Globie Winner is part of Community Volunteers for International Programs, CVIP, and helps match community friends with international students and scholars as part of the International Friendship Program. But what Cindy Walter has done for one international student in particular over the past year has shown her commitment to be not only a friend, but an advocate, helper and truly a family-away-from-home for this student and for others. Learn more of Cindy’s story in her interview.
Donna & James Kells, Technician in Potato Breeding Program and Chair, Department of Plan, Soil and Microbial Sciences
Our final Globie Winners for 2019 received a record-breaking 10 separate nominations, from international students and scholars from across the world – literally, one student sent her nomination from her field research site in Kenya! 
Donna and James Kells havemade a huge impact in the lives of these students, scholars and now alumni through creating a welcoming environment in their work but, even more importantly, in their home. We unfortunately couldn’t fit all10 nominators into one video, but learn more about the Kells in their interview.
Once again, congratulations to our 2019 Globie Winners!
Thanks also to everyone who nominated someone, and to all those who make an effort to create a welcoming campus and community here in East Lansing. We celebrate all of your work.
OISS Live 