Mississippi State University is calling on Starkville residents to serve as hosts for the school”s international student population.
But the students won”t be living with their host families, said Hawken Brackett, community assistant at the university”s Global Leadership Continuum Office.
“The student would come over for dinner or go out to a play or just go do different stuff in the community with the family,” Brackett said. “It”s not a home-stay program. It”s more of a social interaction.”
This is the fourth semester the Borderless Hosts program has been in operation. Since its inception, 75 students and 50 host families have participated, Brackett said. The students have come from 16 countries.
The Borderless Hosts program benefits not only the students, but the families, as well, Hawkett said.
“It”s a great way to form personal connections on the local level and on the world level,” Hawkett said. “It”s kind fo a dual learning process for the families and the students because you”re learning about different cultures.”
Participants can sign up at www.glp.msstate.edu. Applications will be accepted until Sept. 7 at 8 a.m., then the university will pair students with host families.
For more information, contact the Global Leadership Continuum Office at 662-325-0244, or e-mail Hawkett at [email protected].
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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