EVENTS 2006

A publication of the Tucson-Almaty Sister Cities Committee                 November, 2006
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November 14, 2006:

Bolat Bersebaev, Sally Allison, Sally Gary, Saule Moldabekova, Gulnara Kurmangaliyeva,
Terrence Graham and Jerry Gary.

Tucson, Arizona
Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Members of CIP/ACCELS (Center for International Programs/American Councils for International Education),
shown here in a picture with TASCC members at a breakfast meeting at the Maingate Marriott to discuss the
Bolashak program. Consensus opinion among everyone was that the role of TASCC in hosting these students is an
important one. Many of the Bolashak students that came to CESL last year elected to return to the University of
Arizona although they each had a choice of three or more universities around the United States. GO TASCC! ! !

RECEPTION AT UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA FOR KAZAKH STUDENTS

Smiles sparkled, gentle laughter rippled across the room and there was lively conversation as more than 35 students from across the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan attending the University of Arizona enjoyed a welcoming reception in their honor on Saturday, October 21, at the Student Union at UA. There was plenty to smile about. The UA's new president, Dr. Robert Shelton, was the guest of honor and speaker for the event. Dr. Shelton took time out from annual Parents' Day activities to speak to the group and have his picture taken with the students.

Dr. Shelton spoke of the courage of the Kazakh students in traveling half way around the world to attend college in Arizona. He also spoke of the value of international education and its contribution, at both the individual and societal level, to foster cross-cultural understanding -- values espoused by Tucson's local Tucson-Almaty Sister Cities Committee.

The students and guests were treated to a buffet lunch. In addition, each student received a welcoming plaque from the City of Tucson, presented by Vice Mayor Carol West, and a bag of gifts from the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Tucson has been the host city to several high school and college level foreign exchange students over the last years. In 2005, government-sponsored students arrived at UA through the Presidential Scholarship Program in Kazakhstan, commonly known as "Bolashak," or "the future." There are about 3,000 Kazakhs in the program worldwide. About 35 students from Kazakhstan are at UA and 29 are Bolashak scholars.

"For me it was a great joy to see this group of young people, ambassadors of their country, assembled here to celebrate the beginning of their school year," said Jerry Gary, Chairman Emeritus of the Tucson-Almaty Sister Cities Committee. "They embody the values of our Sister City work to increase peace and understanding worldwide through people-to-people diplomacy."