Your March Pitt State Passport E-Newsletter is Here 🌍

Greetings from the Pittsburg State International Programs and Services Office!

Our Spring semester is in full swing at Pitt State, as classes and campus activites have started up. As the semester progresses, we're excited at the news and stroeis that come up. We have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming semester, and many amazing stories to tell!

Please enjoy this month's stories of a few of the many exceptional PSU Gorillas! #OAGAAG

International Community News

PSU welcomes students from 14 partner institutions in Spring semester

This January, Pitt State welcomed students from 14 partner institutions across the world on exchange. Students from France, Brazil, Taiwan, Germany, Finland, and South Korea have arrived for an exchange of one or two semesters.

Students came from: Audencia Business School, Montpellier Business School, Excelia Group (La Rochelle Business School), Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, National Taipei University of Business (NTUB), Shu-Te University, Chung Yuan Christian University, Fu Jen Catholic University, Gyeongsang National University (GNU), Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (TU Freiberg), Universidade de Sorocaba (UNISO), and Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie.

"We are so excited to host students from our excellent partner institutions around the world," said Aaron Hurt, Director of International Programs and Services. "The diversity and culture they will bring will benefit PSU and the Pittsburg community as a whole."

Welcome Gorillas! #OAGAAG

Learn more about PSU's Partner Institutions here.

PSU’s Intensive English Program hosts students from Kyungnam College of Information & Technology for English program

The Pittsburg State University Intensive English Program (IEP) hosted a four-week virtual English program with 22 students from Kyungnam College of Information & Technology (KIT), in Korea.

“The overall experience was absolutely wonderful,” said Paige Cortes, IEP coordinator.

Throughout the program, the students from KIT were able to learn about basic verb forms, some beginner modal verbs, and tenses. They also learned about the American college classroom, about campus life, various programs offered at PSU, and much more. Of course, they also learned "Once a Gorilla, Always a Gorilla!"

Cortes and Liddia both said much they appreciate Sejeong Kim and Ms. Eun Hee Kim of KIT, the staff from the PSU International Programs and Services office, and the KIT students for making the program a success.

“This particular group of students was very bright and welcoming,” said Liddia Graves, IEP Instructor. “I had so much fun creating a unique class for them and getting to know them as we went along.”

Learn more about PSU's Intensive English Program here.

Gorilla Giving Day: March 7, 2022

We love our Gorillas, who proudly wear the Crimson and Gold, and can’t wait to tell others about Pittsburg State University across the globe. Now you can help spread the word about your university and help support it at the same time during our 5^th Annual Gorilla Giving Day. This unique fundraising event is the perfect opportunity to show your Gorilla pride by supporting the programs and priorities most meaningful to you.

Show our students, faculty, and friends the reach of our Global Gorilla Network! Our goal is to have gifts from 15 different countries. Accept this challenge and don’t leave anything on the table. It is your opportunity to make a difference and give today!

Any gift of any amount, whether it be $1 or $100, is greatly appreciated and will be used to continue the rich legacy of International Education at Pittsburg State University.

Be sure to select "Crimson & Gold Global Challenge" on the online donation form.

Give Now

See if your country is represented.

Student Spotlight

Finnish exchange student chooses PSU to exchange for a second time

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, it disrupted the lives and plans of many people.

Jenna Hiekkavirta, of Finland, was beginning her semester exchange at Pittsburg State University in Spring 2020 when her semester was cut short due to the pandemic, and she had to return home.

Now, two years later, Hiekkavirta has returned to PSU to finish what she started, and experience a full semester at PSU.

“I had been waiting for my exchange semester for a long time, so when it was cut short due Covid-19, I knew that when it was possible, I would like to come back here,” she said.

Hiekkavirta is on exchange from the University of Jyväskylä, where she is pursuing her graduate degree in Computer Science.

She knew she wanted to come back to Pittsburg because of the opportunities she had, and how welcoming the community was.

“Studying here is a wonderful opportunity for me to live and travel in the United States and also people are so nice and welcoming here,” she said.

Hiekkavirta said there are many new students compared to when she was last at Pitt State, but that she is enjoying her time back on campus.

“I have made a great number of new friends and somehow this place feels like a second home to me,” she said.

Learn more about PSU's Computer Information Systems program here.

International Alumni Spotlight

PSU Hall of Fame Alumnus stays connected 20 years post-grad

PSU alumnus, Oscar Gonzalez, of Spain, graduated over 20 years ago, but he still considers PSU a home away from home in the USA.

"They were so good to me from day one," he said of his time at PSU and on the basketball team. "The relationships that I made were so special from day one that it’s like my second house, like Gene Iba was my coach here and was like my second father."

Oscar played for the Gorilla Basketball team from 1995-1999, and can be found on the PSU Hall of Fame wall located in the Garfield Weede Building on campus.

"PSU was the main reason why I became a professional basketball player and the main reason why who I am right now," Oscar said. "... and for me it was the greatest decision I made in my life- to choose Pittsburg State to play at a college level."

Upon graduation, Oscar played basketball professionally in Spain for 12 years, and now works as an agent for professional athletes. Closer to home, he helps recruit promising athletes in Spain to play at PSU and recruits college basketball players to play professionally internationally.