Kirk returns from trip to Asia

Dr. Ned Kirk, Music Department, just returned from his ninth trip to Asia in the past four years, this time to serve on the jury of the 2014 Hong Kong International Piano Invitation Competition where he heard 370 pianists ages 5-25. Following the competition, Dr. Kirk taught 38 piano students from four Hong Kong high schools in his continuing efforts to enhance enrollment at Saint Mary’s.

Leung conducts televised concert in Kenya

Dr. David Leung (Music Department) was in Nairobi, Kenya, in mid-December to conduct a nationally televised Christmas concert with St. Paul’s chapel choir and the Kenya conservatoire of music orchestra at the University of Nairobi. The event, held Dec. 22, drew an audience of 2,000 people including the Kenyan President’s family and the chief justice. The evening was hosted by former CNN reporter Jeff Koinange.  Dr. Leung also visited Tangaza College and met with the faculty, staff and music certificate students there.

Leung, Kirk return from Asia recruiting trip

The Music Department’s Dr. David Leung and Dr. Ned Kirk have returned from a two-week recruiting trip in Asia. Leung and Kirk visited Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, where they gave recitals, recruited students and presented information sessions and masterclasses.   They are already getting students to apply to SMU programs and the 2014 summer string workshop.

Chinese high school representatives visit SMU

Dian Du, coordinator of U.S. Exchange Program, and Daniel Wang, a representative, both from Beijing No. 4 High School International Campus, chose to visit SMU’s Inernational Center  Nov. 7 during their tour in the U.S.

The two discussed possible programs for their high school students in China. Du later wrote, “We were very impressed with your beautiful campus, and excellent academic programs. I do think that the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a very good match for the students at Beijing No. 4 High School and the schools under China-U.S. Leading Schools Association.  I deeply appreciate the chance to meet with you and sincerely hope we could work together on building up the international programs.”

Leung spends summer performing, recruiting in Asia

David Leung poses with Brother George Van Grieken, FSC, Ph.D., President of SJI international, and Megan, a piano student  who is interested in attending SMU.

Leung performs

David Leung, Music Department, spent time at St. Joseph’s Institution International in Singapore, part of his summer trips in Asia. Leung visited with Lasallian high schools the first week, where he met with students, parents and teachers; gave concerts and masterclasses; and stayed with the Brothers. Ned Kirk will accompany Leung on a follow up recruiting trip in November.

Updates on international recruiting activities

Lupita Garza-Cienfuegos, director of International Recruiting, has been traveling in the Middle East and Asia promoting SMU programs. She has visited Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and Kuwait, Kuwait. A stop in Bahrain was deleted from the seven-city tour for security reasons. In Asia, Lupita will be recruiting in Bangkok, Thailand; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Shanghai, China.

The is one of several trips she makes across the globe each year promoting the DeLaSalle Language Institute, the Winona undergraduate programs, and the SGPP University Programs. She left on Feb. 24 and will return March 13. She is traveling with the International Student Network, an organization that arranges international recruiting fairs each year.

Jim Bedtke, vice president of the College, and Dr. Marcel Dumestre, vice president of SGPP, are currently in China to meet with Saint Mary’s partner university, Northwest University. Bedtke and Dumestre are in Xi’an to discuss future cooperation and collaboration with Northwest University. More information on the meetings and negotiations will be forth coming in a future President’s Update.

While in Xi’an they met and had dinner with 20 graduates of SMU. The undergraduate and graduate alums spoke of how their time at SMU had changed their lives and the wonderful memories they have of their time in Winona. The alums spoke of the exceptional faculty and staff, by name, from across the university that had contributed to their great experience. Students used phrases like “awesome, life changing, professional, and caring” to describe the faculty and staff. A number of them continue to keep in contact with Saint Mary’s via Skype.

Between the negotiation sessions, time was scheduled for Bedtke and Dumestre to meet with prospective students and parents. They presented and answered questions for more than two hours for more than 50 individuals who are interested in undergraduate and graduate programs.