The new International Student Association executive board for the 2025-2026 semester were presented on April 4.
"Home away from home" was a theme established at the beginning of the school year’s homecoming parade for Michigan State University’s International Student Association (ISA). This theme was carried through to the ISA Ball on April 4 at the Kellogg Center.
Home is important for all students when moving away to college, but especially so for those moving to the U.S. for the first time from other countries. Actuarial science and math senior and ISA president Celia Madrid Mañez loves being able to make other international Spartans feel at home.
"We always love the homecoming parade," Madrid Mañez said. "And so we kind of went with taking the theme of homecoming into the ball to kind of make it more like a whole year thing."
At the ball, ISA tried to replicate this feeling, encouraging members to come in cultural attire that would normally be worn for a special event like this.
"We love and encourage people to dress up in their cultural attire," Madrid Mañez said. "We want people to feel comfortable wearing what they would wear if they went to a gala or an event of this status back home."
The ball opened with speeches from Madrid Mañez as well as other ISA e-board members. They then introduced next year’s e-board members, including data science and world politics junior Lowell Monis as ISA’s next external vice president. Prior to this position, Monis has been part of the affiliate program for ISA.
The affiliate program encompasses other international student organizations on campus, putting them under ISA’s umbrella. As a part of the affiliate program, Monis brings these organizations together to have ISA serve as a form of student government for these groups. Monis has plans for the affiliate program as he steps into his new role.
"I am excited about the expansion of the (affiliate) program," Monis said. "We will not slowly but surely transform into a student government."
All of these affiliate organizations were invited to the ISA ball. During the awards presentation, groups like the African Students Union, Nepalese Students Association and the Turkish Students Association (TSA) were recognized. Computer science and supply chain junior Umut Temel is a part of TSA. He has found that his membership is one of the best things for him here at MSU.
"As an international student who came from Turkey knowing no one in the United States, having no family here, being able to hang out with all of the Turkish people in TSA and going to their meetings and events, it makes me feel back at home," Temel said.
After he decided he wanted to go to school in the U.S., Temel selected MSU for its academics and its community. Even though home away from home isn’t always the easiest to find, it is one of the driving factors for why these students stay at MSU.
"Finding academics is a little easier," Temel said. "But finding that home, finding the people who see you as you are, it’s not as easy to find. I am really happy I made the decision to come here."
