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Thanksgiving came early for students, faculty and staff at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) as the school kicked off International Education Week with its annual International Thanksgiving celebration. 

There was something for everyone at the event, with more than 20 varieties of foods from various countries that were sure to tempt everyone’s palate.

As participants feasted on culinary delights like Pakistani Samosas, Indian Panipuri, Costa Rican Gallo Pinter, South Korean Tteokbokki and Nigerian Jollof rice, along with the traditional American turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes, they learned about the history of Thanksgiving, outlined by Dr. Richard Rawls, professor of history. 

Music filled the air as faculty and students played vibrant Latin Jazz music that had everyone in the audience tapping their feet.

During the event, GGC’s Office of Internationalization presented the college’s Award of Excellence in Internationalization to Dr. Mahriana Rofheart, associate professor of English, for her work in promoting intercultural education on campus and increasing students’ awareness of, and access to, scholarship opportunities for study abroad and international travel.

GGC’s faculty and staff also provided information about the college’s study abroad opportunities in more than 10 different countries, such as Germany, Korea, Thailand and Rwanda. An “international wall” allowed participants to express their ethnic identities by painting their nations’ flags on a canvas.

Other opportunities at GGC during International Education  Week include sessions about cultural perspectives, student resources and scholarship opportunities. The week concludes on Friday, Nov. 10 with a Migration Policy Symposium that focuses on the implications of migration governance in Central America, Mexico and the U.S. The event will take place from 9 - 10:50 a.m. in room B-1600.

During this symposium, political science professor, Dr. Clemente Quinones-Reyes, assistant professor of political science, will discuss the migration regime governing the Central American migration to the North.  Dr. Andres Hijar, assistant professor of history, will discuss the implications of migration to Mexico. The pair will be joined by Dr. Carla Pederzini of Universidad Iberoamericana, who will talk about Central American labor in Mexico and Jorge Buzo of Univision-Atlanta, who will give a journalist’s perspective of immigrants in the U.S.

GGC’s International Education Week is held in accordance with the national observance of International Education Week, which promotes international education and exchange throughout the world.

Download the 2023 International Thanksgiving gallery.