Global Gorilla Celebration honors graduating international students

Key Takeaways:

• The Global Gorilla Celebration is hosted by the office of International Program and Services.
• It honors all international students who are graduating or ending their exchange programs in spring 2023.

The Global Gorilla Celebration is a tradition the International office has been doing for a long time to celebrate the international students who are graduating or ending their exchange program at Pittsburg State University. It also recognizes other students and special people who have been involved with the university’s office of International Programs and Services.

Gracie Rubble, the international recruitment and communication coordinator in the office, said the Global Gorilla Celebration is an event to honor and celebrate the international students who will be graduating, as well as for the exchange students who are finishing their visits to Pitt State.

“This event has been around for approximately 25 years,” Rubble said. “It was initially created as an International Graduation Banquet, and in more recent years, Brenda Hawkins from our office changed the name to Global Gorilla Celebration to include our exchange students, study abroad students, IKE students, and other awards.”

Mylene Affes, a student from France who just finished her MBA in International Business, said the event is a way to celebrate the diversity of the student community at Pitt State and to acknowledge the accomplishments of the international students who worked hard to achieve their academic goals while also experiencing a new culture.

The Global Gorilla Celebration not only honors the international students but also honors other students that have also gone to study abroad for a period of time in other countries.

“We also acknowledge other special people and groups such as Pitt pals, friendship families, orientation drivers and officers from our International Student Association,” Rubble said.

During the celebration, the Office of International Program and Services honors and recognizes the achievements of all the international students who are graduating that semester for all their hard work for completing their academic goals. They also honor those American students who studied abroad for certain lengths of time.

“We have 46 students graduating, 33 graduate and 13 undergraduates,” Rubble said. “We have approximately 24 exchange students completing their exchange.”

The celebration typically starts by a speech from the Brenda Hawkins and then goes on to calling the students up the stage to get their award, including the people who got a special recognition for helping the international students and office.

“After the program, a cake and punch reception is typically held, where students and guests can mingle, socialize and celebrate together,” Affes said.

Most of the international students who are being celebrated arrived at the same time and together were able to finish their academic goals. However, they are not the only ones that are attending this celebration.

“Other people who attend include pitt pals, students’ friends, family, friendship families, classmates, professors and community members,” Rubble said.

Anyone who has helped and accepted the international students in their families and made a special friendship with the international students are welcomed to attend the Global Gorilla Celebration.

Affes also added that the Global Gorilla Celebration is a nice way of saying goodbye to everyone.

A lot of students go back to their countries after graduating, but there are some who decide to stay longer at Pitt State.

“One of the students has decided to come back to Pitt State to pursue his masters in an MBA,” Rubble said.

However, other students have decided to stay in the U.S. to find jobs since they have a chance to get an OPT (Optional Practical Training) for a period of time.

Affes said that she is not sure when she’ll go back home. For now, she is trying to find a job in the U.S.