AWC to hold ribbon cutting for Rosemary’s Kitchen for International Students
January 16, 2020Yuma, AZ (January 16, 2020) – International students at Arizona Western College now have the opportunity to utilize the culinary kitchen to prepare a meal from their home country through a new partnership with the Career and Technical Education Culinary Arts program.
Since cooking is not allowed in the residence halls, Rosemary Harrison spoke during the Horizon Symposium in November to bring forward the idea of having a space available for international students to get a sense of home through their cooking.
Thanks to the collaboration and support of Culinary Arts Professor Robert Gedeon, the culinary kitchen on campus will now be shared for this purpose once a month. A ribbon cutting ceremony for Rosemary’s Kitchen for International Students will be held at 8 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, in the culinary kitchen in the LR (Learning Resources) Building on the AWC Yuma Campus, 2020 S. Avenue 8E.
“Having access to a kitchen for international students at AWC is important to me and the other international students on campus, because it makes us feel like we are at home,” said Rosemary, who is originally from Nigeria. “Cooking and eating a homemade meal will certainly help us cope with the homesickness we experience frequently. With this initiative, I am hoping to create an environment that feels like a home away from home.”
Rosemary first began taking classes at AWC during the fall of 2017 and will be graduating with her Associate of Business degree in May. She plans to continue her studies at a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree in finance.
AWC is currently home to about 95 international students from almost 40 different countries including: Cyprus, Peru, Great Britain, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Indonesia, Mexico, Ghana, Brazil, Algeria, Vietnam, Nigeria, Colombia, France, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Albania, Dominican Republic, Australia, Netherlands, Gambia, Italy, Germany, Canada, Japan, Kenya, Bahamas, Turkey, Spain, Greece, Equatorial Guinea, Serbia, Venezuela, Philippines, Tunisia, Pakistan, and Mozambique.
Director of International Student Programs Aybuke Keehn shared that she takes pride in providing an environment where international students can have a positive college experience, and the Rosemary’s Kitchen initiative is just of one of the many ways that AWC accomplishes that.
“International students are guided towards success from the moment they arrive at AWC through orientation sessions, grade checks, and one-on-one meetings. One of the department’s latest goals is to cultivate cultural awareness and appreciation throughout the college community by giving international students the opportunity to deliver monthly presentations about their countries,” she said. “I am truly so excited about the Rosemary’s Kitchen initiative as it aligns with our efforts to create a welcoming and caring environment for our international students.”
Contact:
Aybuke Keehn
Director of International Student Programs/PDSO
Arizona Western College
Aybuke.Keehn@azwestern.edu
(928) 344-7699
Ashley Herrington
Chief of Staff
Arizona Western College
Ashley.Herrington@azwestern.edu
(928) 344-7501