Global

Domer
The

An International Student Services & Activities (ISSA) Publication April 2011

Robyn Centilli
Receives Terrence
Akai Award

R obyn Centilli, career counselor

at the University of Notre
Dame, is the recipient of the
2011 Terrence Akai Award for
Exceptional Service to International
Students. The Terrence Akai Award,
which is presented annually by
International Student Services &
Activities (ISSA), recognizes a Notre

IFW 2011: A Sweet World

Dame faculty or staff member who
provides exceptional support to the
international student community.

F
International students nominate rom March 25 through April 2, sale of Nepalese handicrafts.
faculty and staff members for this Notre Dame students, faculty,
award. and staff celebrated international On Saturday, April 2, children of all
heritage and culture during ages made international arts and
“We are pleased to present the International Festival Week (IFW) crafts, got their faces painted and
2011 Terrence Akai Award to Robyn 2011. International Student Services played games at the University Village
Centilli,” Bethany Burgun, Director & Activities (ISSA) has hosted IFW Community Center.
of ISSA, said. “Robyn has gone above at the University of Notre Dame for
and beyond to support international more than 40 years. Other International Festival Week
students throughout their career events included an international
search, including helping them to IFW 2011 kicked-off with the Asian breakfast, Spanish Mass, red-hot chili
find internships and employment Film Festival and Conference, which pepper eating contest, International
both before and after graduation.” showcased recent animated films Street Food Festival, and tour of
from Japan, as well as paid tribute the Snite Museum of Art’s Meso-
In addition to providing career to internationally acclaimed director American exhibits.
advising services for international Satoshi Kon, who passed away in
students, Centilli provides career 2010. IFW 2011 was presented by
counseling to undergraduate and International Student Services &
graduate engineering and science On Tuesday, March 29, more than 200 Activities (ISSA) and co-sponsored
majors. Centilli also leads The Career people attended the International by The Career Center, DeBartolo
Center’s International Committee, Festival: A Sweet World, to sample Performing Arts Center, Fischer
which develops programs to help desserts from around the world. In O’Hara-Grace Graduate Residences
international students search for addition to indulging on sweet treats, (FOG), Kellogg Institute for
employment opportunities within attendees participated in various International Studies, La Alianza,
the United States and abroad. international activities, including Snite Museum of Art, and University
henna, a Japanese tea ceremony, and Village and Cripe Street Apartments.
Continued on page 2
1
Homeless, Not Hopeless
W hile most people were celebrating St. Patrick’s
Day, six Notre Dame students spent the day
volunteering at the South Bend Center for the Homeless.
in the United States. According to the Center for
the Homeless, there are more than 700 homeless
men, women, and children in South Bend. After the
This field trip, which was coordinated by ISSA, marked
orientation, the students helped sort donations and
the first time that many of these students had directly
prepared and served lunch for the Center’s residents.
experienced homelessness in the United States.
“The most surprising thing was knowing how [the
“The poverty in the U.S. and China are definitely so
Center for the Homeless is] able to provide emotional
different!” Ning Jia, a graduate student from China, said.
support and ‘reconnect people’ who have been through
“In the city where I’m from, there are also people asking
such an immense life transformation,” Dhiraj Pant, a
for money and sleeping on the street. They literally have
graduate student from Nepal, said. “It was also striking
nothing: no car, no Medicare, etc…Now I know there is
to hear when one of their guests said ‘homeless does
poverty in the States too…. I feel it’s really awesome to
not mean hopeless.’”
see the Center is not only providing a place for these
people to stay, but also trying to help them to get back
If you’re interested in volunteering at the Center for the
on their own!”
Homeless, please email Peter Lombardo, Director for
Community Involvement, at plombardo@cfh.net.
The six Notre Dame students began the day learning
about the Center’s programs as well as homelessness

Akai Award member, dean and

long-time advocate
Continued from page 1
for international
“Robyn devotes a lot of time to collecting information students. A native
regarding careers for international students,” said of Guyana, South
Yichao Pan, an undergraduate student from China who America, Dr. Akai
nominated Centilli for the award. “It is very difficult joined the Notre
for international students to land a full-time job or Dame faculty in
internship in the U.S., but Robyn’s work is very helpful.” 1976 as a research
associate in aerospace
Centilli, a graduate of Indiana University South Bend, and mechanical
began working at The Career Center in 2009. Prior to engineering. Dr. Akai
coming to Notre Dame, Centilli worked as an admissions held appointments
counselor at Bethel College. Centilli currently lives with in a variety of
her husband and three daughters in Osceola. Robyn Centilli departments and
taught 15 courses during his career. In 1994, Terry was
ISSA created the Terrence Akai Award for Exceptional appointed to assistant dean of the Graduate School and
Service to International Students in 2010 to honor later served as senior associate dean until his death in
faculty and staff members who exemplify the qualities 2009.
of the late Terrence “Terry” Akai, a beloved faculty
2
 Student Spotlight:
Dhiraj Pant, Nepal
M any of you have probably
heard of the famous track
“Kaa kaa kaa kaat-man-
me here, however, was the University’s philosophy
on ‘unique spirit’ and being open to change. In
particular, the development of
duuu” by Bob Seger. It also the new economics program that
happens to be the place I hail provides training on policy-relevant
from, the capital of Nepal. We research.
are a tiny nation sandwiched
between two giants: India and Apart from missing home, friends, food
China. Nepal is known for her and weather, the most challenging
majestic inheritance of the scenic aspect for me has been adjusting to
mountains in the Himalayan a graduate student lifestyle. Given
range and houses the world’s the demanding workload, I have little
tallest mountain, Mount Everest, time to meet new people or to be
which is 8848 m above sea level. involved in extracurricular activities.
What is not so obvious though, is However, with the help of programs
that according to Guinness World coordinated by offices like ISSA, I am
Records, we have the shortest able to balance my work and social
man alive, measuring just 67 cm. life.

I am Dhiraj Pant, a graduate Overall, the college experience has

student in the Department of been more than fruitful and I am
Economics. Back in college, I used to hear a lot about looking forward to more great experiences in my
Notre Dame’s tradition, culture and values from remaining years here at Notre Dame. Go Irish!
my professors, friends and media. What really got

ISSA Staff Member Elected to NAFSA Trainer Corps

S am Lockhart, international student advisor for

ISSA’s Immigration Services Office (ISO), has
been elected to the NAFSA Trainer Corps. NAFSA is
“Campus and Community Programming.”

To become an authorized trainer for the NAFSA

the world’s largest nonprofit professional organization Trainer Corps, Lockhart
dedicated to international education. will participate in an
orientation via webcast
As a member of the Trainer Corps, Lockhart, who as well as a full-day
has served as the NAFSA Region VI Regulatory workshop at the NAFSA
Ombudsperson for the past four years, will conduct Annual Conference in
professional development workshops from the Core Vancouver, Canada in May.
Education Program (CEP) curriculum at NAFSA’s The NAFSA Trainer Corps
regional and annual conferences. The CEP consists is a three-year volunteer
of four, eight, or 12-hour workshops ranging in commitment.
topic from “F-1 Student Advising for Beginners” to Sam Lockhart

3
 IMMIGRATIONUpdates
Travel Signature Reminder 2019, I-94 card, passport, and visa to the ISO (121 Main
Building) to complete the travel signature request.

I f an F-1 or J-1 student or their dependents travel

outside of the United States, they will need a valid
travel signature from the Immigration Services Office Apply for OPT!
(ISO) to reenter the country. Travel signatures are

valid for 12 months. Students should request a travel
signature from the ISO at least one week prior to their
departure from the United States. Students can fill out
travel signature requests online at: http://issa.nd.edu/
immigration/request-forms-for-current-students/.
After completing the online request form, a student
must also bring his or her current, original I-20 or DS-
O
PT allows F-1 students to engage in temporary
employment directly related to their majors.
Students may be eligible for a total of 12 months of
OPT. Students are not required to have a job offer
to apply! For more information, please contact the
Immigration Services Office (ISO) at undiso@nd.edu
or visit http://issa.nd.edu/immigration.

April Events March Photos

Friday, April 1:
Latin Expressions 2011
Orígenes: Regresando a Nuestras
Raíces

Saturday, April 2:
International Children’s Festival

Wednesday, April 6:
Life After OPT

Thursday, April 7:
CPT Information Session

Wednesday, April 13
International Ambassador Banquet

Thursday, April 14:

Immigration Question & Answer
(Q & A) Session

Friday, April 15:

International Alumni Reception
(for graduating students)

Tuesday, April 19:

OPT Information Session

Wednesday, April 20:

CPT Information Session

Job Searching for International

Undergraduates Panel Discussion