The graduates, Alberto Mederos and Jany Carballo, completed Level 6, the highest level of classes offered at IEP. They received graduation certificates and stoles emblazoned with the flags of both their home country, Cuba, and the United States, along with hugs from their instructors. Each of the two graduates spoke during the ceremony.

The ceremony was followed by a potluck meal held in 黑料正能量鈥檚 Roselawn Building.

Mederos thanked his teachers for boosting his confidence, pushing him forward, and never letting him give up.

“Thank you so much for preparing us for life in this new country, the United States of America, where learning English is a vital necessity,” he said.

He shared a few words of advice for fellow students still in the program. “Never give up and keep pushing,” he said. “With resilience, determination, and effort, you can turn your own dreams into reality.”

Carballo credited her IEP instructors with believing in her, supporting her, and helping her regain motivation and self-confidence.

鈥淭his program is the best place to start when you are an immigrant learning a new language,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou made me feel safe, supported, and as part of the family.鈥�

The path wasn鈥檛 easy, she said, with ups and downs and moments when she felt like giving up. But with the IEP鈥檚 help, she faced her fears and reached her first goal: building a foundation in English.

鈥淚 feel confident knocking on any door and looking for new opportunities,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hank you for being my stepping stone to the next level of my life.鈥�

In his address to the graduates, their families and friends, and others gathered for the ceremony, IEP Director Jeremy Samsoe reflected on the idiom 鈥済oing back to square one.鈥�

鈥淚t means to go back to the beginning of something,鈥� he said, and oftentimes, the phrase is associated with some kind of failure. 鈥淢aybe you failed at a task, failed at a job, and now you must go back to square one.鈥�

鈥淔or many of you here, being in a new country and starting a new life can feel a bit like being at square one鈥攖hat you are completely starting over,鈥� Samsoe said. 鈥淚 like to remind students that you are not truly starting at square one. You are starting many new things, but you also bring with you many things: your language, your culture, your expertise.鈥�

鈥淔or both of you, Jany and Alberto, this is like moving one more square,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not the end of your education or your language learning, but it is a step forward. It is an accomplishment, one among many, that you will have in your life.鈥�

The ceremony also included remarks from Harrisonburg Councilman Nasser Alsaadun MA 鈥�17 (education).

The Iraqi-born educator, who came to the United States in 2008, became the first refugee councilmember in the city鈥檚 history when he was elected in the fall of 2024. He repeated something he鈥檚 often said鈥攖hat IEP is the best program of its kind from Winchester to Charlottesville鈥攁nd expressed deep gratitude for its impact on refugees and immigrants in the community.

鈥淚t does much more than teach English,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t opens doors, builds confidence, and creates opportunities.鈥�

Alsaadun said he鈥檚 personally witnessed incredible journeys through the program. 鈥淚 have seen students arrive with little or no English and, through hard work and determination, go on to pursue graduate degrees,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat kind of growth is inspiring. It shows resilience, talent, and a strong commitment to success.鈥�

黑料正能量 the Intensive English Program

黑料正能量鈥檚 Intensive English Program (IEP) helps English language learners from all around the world find their voice and build a better life for themselves. In a typical semester, IEP has 60 to 80 students representing 15 to 20 different countries. 

For more info about 黑料正能量鈥檚 Intensive English Program, visit .

鈥淭hat first or second week, I thought, 鈥業鈥檓 not gonna make it. This is my last semester here, and I鈥檓 not coming back,鈥欌�� she recalled.

But then, she said, she began forming deep connections with her professors.

鈥淕oing to school with students nearly half my age, I felt a little more connected with my professors than with my fellow students,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen I started making those connections, I had this feeling that I was going to be OK after all.鈥�

She had met her advisor, English Professor Dr. Kevin Seidel, during an open house the previous fall. 鈥淗e checked in one day to make sure I was doing all right,鈥� Beachy said. 鈥淲e talked about how my experience was going, and that was super helpful.鈥�

Beachy graduated with degrees in English and writing studies last spring after five semesters at 黑料正能量. She had transferred to the university from online classes at Blue Ridge Community College. By the time she enrolled at 黑料正能量, she had already spent four years teaching at the church school she graduated from and another 10 years developing curriculum at in Harrisonburg.

When Beachy, who lives in Staunton, expressed interest in pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree, a co-worker at Christian Light recommended 黑料正能量. He thought the close-knit community would be a good fit for her, and he was right.

鈥淭he fact that 黑料正能量 is small makes it more personable,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 feel like you get to know your professors better. I didn鈥檛 know that when I started, but I鈥檝e enjoyed that.鈥�

She mentioned Dr. Marti Eads and Chad Gusler as faculty members she鈥檚 grown close to. 鈥淚 appreciate the connections I made here, and I feel that some of my professors are still my friends,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e people I connect with when I see them, which is really useful.鈥�

Beachy worked part-time at Christian Light while taking classes as a full-time student and tried to find courses that fit her busy schedule. When the registrar suggested she take a sociology class, she enrolled in Dr. Gaurav Pathania鈥檚 class.

She described the sociology professor as 鈥渧ery personable鈥� and fondly recalled that he served chai and cookies in class. 鈥淭hat was something I always enjoyed,鈥� Beachy said. 鈥淲e would have discussions outside of class, too, and it was interesting to hear his perspectives on life in India versus life here.鈥� She enjoyed his introductory sociology class so much that she signed up for more classes with Pathania. Those sociology classes helped her think about the world differently and better understand social issues.

Pathania remembers Beachy as never missing a class and demonstrating a level of thoughtfulness and maturity that set her apart. 鈥淛oyce is truly one of the most exceptional students I have encountered in my five years of teaching at 黑料正能量,鈥� he wrote.

Through a 鈥淟ocal Context鈥� intercultural program, Beachy spent a summer studying various neighborhoods and social groups in Harrisonburg. That experience led her to try different ethnic restaurants in the area. 鈥淚 still enjoy doing that to this day,鈥� she said.

Last spring, Beachy served as an editorial intern for 黑料正能量鈥檚 marketing and communications department, writing many well-received articles for 黑料正能量 News. She attended the 2025 Intercollegiate Peace Fellowship Conference and wrote a recap about it. Her story about the intercultural to Guatemala and Mexico was one of the most read stories of 2025. She also wrote about an initiative by the Latinx Student Alliance to distribute 鈥淜now Your Rights鈥� cards to members of Harrisonburg鈥檚 immigrant community. At the same time, she volunteered to help adult English learners at 黑料正能量鈥檚 Intensive English Program, which was at the heart of another article written by her.

Near the end of her time at 黑料正能量, Beachy was promoted to the role of literacy coordinator at Christian Light Publications. She said her employer is helping reimburse her for tuition costs.

鈥淚n the (conservative Mennonite) setting where I come from, it鈥檚 not as common for people to pursue higher education,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 have any program in place to help with tuition costs, but now they want to offer it to others who want to go to college, which I鈥檓 really excited about. It means some reimbursement for me, but it also opens a path for other people.鈥�

Beachy said there are advantages to attending college as a nontraditional, older student. She met students who knew what they wanted to do and were serious about studying, as well as others who were in college because their parents wanted them there. 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 know what they were doing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 always felt sorry for them and wished they could just go out and work for a couple years and figure out what they actually wanted to do.鈥�

She mentioned reading The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald that was turned into a Brad Pitt movie a couple decades ago.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about a guy who鈥檚 born an old man, and he goes through life backwards,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e thought about that story sometimes with my experience at 黑料正能量. I felt like I was doing things backwards. Most people go to school and then start their careers. I did my career first, then went to school. But I鈥檓 really glad I did it. Now, if I have friends in their 30s who say, 鈥極h, I want to go to college,鈥� I tell them, 鈥榊eah, you should. It鈥檚 absolutely worth it.鈥欌��

No matter where you come from or which language you speak, there is a place for you in Harrisonburg and at 黑料正能量, and Nasser Alsaadun MA 鈥�17 (education) is living proof of that.

The Iraqi-born educator, who came to the United States in 2008, became the first refugee councilmember in the city鈥檚 history when he was elected last fall and began his in January. He says his presence on council sends a clear message that Harrisonburg is diverse and accepting and that local immigrants can feel welcome as a part of the community.

鈥淧eople can all live in peace and learn from one another鈥攜our culture, my culture. We鈥檙e all in the same pot,鈥� Alsaadun said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 actually a unique thing about this area.鈥�

Through his advocacy work, Alsaadun ensures that the Friendly City lives up to its name as a welcoming place for people of all backgrounds. He volunteers with , a local office of Church World Service that serves and advocates for refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied children, and immigrants in the Shenandoah Valley.

He is also a founder and board member of the , a community group that works to make the city more inclusive and supportive for immigrants and newcomers, addressing challenges they face, building relationships with them, and connecting them with resources.

One of those resources is 黑料正能量鈥檚 renowned Intensive English Program (IEP). Alsaadun, who teaches Arabic courses as an at James Madison University and English Language Learner (ELL) classes for Rockingham County Public Schools, often motivates residents to enroll in IEP classes. The program, hosted in 黑料正能量鈥檚 Roselawn Building, helps English language learners from all around the world find their voice and build a better life for themselves. In a typical semester, IEP has 60 to 80 students of varying ages and language skill levels representing 15 to 20 countries.

鈥満诹险芰� has one of the best English programs in the area,鈥� Alsaadun said. 鈥淚t has a great reputation with the immigrant community.鈥�

He added that graduates of IEP are highly proficient, professional, and well-prepared to continue their education, not just at 黑料正能量, but at any university. 鈥淔rom Winchester to Charlottesville, (that program) is the best there is.鈥�

Did you know?
In Harrisonburg City Public Schools, more than 70 languages are spoken by the student population. The No. 1 spoken language isn鈥檛 English鈥攊t鈥檚 Spanish! Source: in the Daily News-Record. Learn more about IEP at .

Escaping danger

Alsaadun grew up in Iraq and graduated from the University of Basrah in 1997 with a bachelor of arts in English. When the Iraq War broke out, he served as an interpreter for the U.S. Army in 2003. Because of his help, he became a target of militia insurgents, who came looking for him. When they couldn鈥檛 find him, they kidnapped his father for two days, then tortured and killed him.

Alsaadun and his family fled to Syria and later relocated to Lebanon, where they received refugee status from the United Nations. They arrived in the United States in July 2008 and were resettled by CWS Harrisonburg.

While serving as a temporary instructor for JMU鈥檚 foreign language department, Alsaadun started working with the refugee resettlement office and other organizations to welcome newcomers and help refugees adjust to their new life. As he helped connect immigrants to 黑料正能量鈥檚 Intensive English Program, he learned more about the university. He had heard so many success stories about its graduates and decided to enroll. And in 2017, he graduated from 黑料正能量 with a master of arts in education.

It had always been his father鈥檚 dream to see him earn a master鈥檚 degree, shared Alsaadun, and so it was especially meaningful to him. 鈥淚 cried,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ecause I couldn鈥檛 have him there with me seeing that moment.鈥�

鈥楢 different touch鈥�

Since graduating from 黑料正能量, Alsaadun has continued his studies through courses at JMU and the University of Virginia. He said 黑料正能量 professors are unlike any others he has encountered in his education.

鈥淚 was blessed to have professors who recognized and appreciated the gifts I had,鈥� Alsaadun said. 鈥淭hey knew I wasn鈥檛 a native English speaker and that I came from a different culture. Some teachers expect you to know everything, but my teachers at 黑料正能量 understood that sometimes you struggle. That kind of understanding is unique to 黑料正能量.鈥�

In August, while attending a city/黑料正能量 liaison committee meeting as a council representative, he received an email confirming his acceptance into the doctoral program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He is now in his first semester, pursuing a PhD of education in curriculum and instruction, and credited 黑料正能量 and its professors for providing the tools and skills that have helped him succeed.

鈥淚t鈥檚 absolutely a different taste of education,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he courses at 黑料正能量 have a different touch.鈥�

Alsaadun, now a U.S. citizen with a wife and four children, opened Babylon, a Middle Eastern restaurant and market in Harrisonburg, in 2016. He鈥檚 been invited to the White House on two occasions. He met former President Barack Obama in July 2016, in appreciation for 鈥渟erving the community and being a good role model for refugees鈥� and attended a leadership summit on refugees at the White House that September. He received the Leader of the Year award from Church World Service in 2022.

After a full day of classes at 黑料正能量, Kevin Garcia clocks in at 5 p.m. for his eight-hour shift at George鈥檚 Inc., a poultry plant in Harrisonburg. By the time he gets home, it鈥檚 1:30 a.m. and he鈥檚 eager to get some much-needed sleep. In less than seven hours, he鈥檒l be back on campus bright and early for his 8 a.m. class.

The hardworking, indefatigable first-year student emigrated from Cuba three years ago to join his family in Harrisonburg. He graduated from 黑料正能量鈥檚 renowned Intensive English Program (IEP) this spring. When he learned he could transfer 15 credits from his IEP classes to his college degree and that he would receive the 黑料正能量 Promise Grant, which fully covers the tuition costs for eligible students, he knew his future belonged at 黑料正能量.

The biology and Spanish double major, whose full-time job helps support his family with their expenses, said his parents both graduated from college in Cuba. 鈥淭hey had an expectation that I needed to go to college, as well,鈥� said Garcia, who is interested in the emerging and rapidly expanding field of epigenetics. 鈥淲ithout the Promise Grant, that wouldn鈥檛 be possible.鈥�

Garcia is one of 76 first- and second-year students at 黑料正能量 who have access to an exceptional, tuition-free college education thanks to the 黑料正能量 Promise Grant. The initiative is open to Virginia residents whose adjusted gross family incomes are below $75,000. It is for first-time, full-time undergraduate students. See checklist below for more eligibility criteria.听

The 黑料正能量 Promise Grant covers 100 percent of all remaining tuition costs after state, federal, and institutional grants or scholarships have been awarded. It does not cover any fees or living expenses.

Now in its second year, the tuition-free initiative continues to tackle systemic barriers by offering more financial aid, in alignment with 黑料正能量鈥檚 2023-28 strategic plan, Pathways of Promise: Preparing Tomorrow鈥檚 Unifying Leaders.

Troy Martin, director of financial aid for 黑料正能量, said that raising the income threshold for Promise Grant eligibility (it was previously set at $65,000) ensures that a college education at 黑料正能量 is accessible to more students in Virginia than ever before. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want money to stand in the way of a student choosing to attend 黑料正能量,鈥� he said. 

鈥淲e have lots of prospective students who show promise, and our promise is to help them fulfill their promise,鈥� Martin added. 鈥淲e offer a transformative education for these students and allow them to achieve their educational goals and dreams in a setting that will support them every step of the way.鈥�

While there is no deadline to apply for the 黑料正能量 Promise Grant, the deadline for submitting a VTAG application is Sept. 15, 2026.

For more information about the 黑料正能量 Promise Grant, visit .

Let Braydon Hoover, vice president of enrollment & marketing, walk you through the 黑料正能量 Promise Grant in the video below.

One of the goals of a road trip is to reach your destination, but that鈥檚 not its only purpose, said Samsoe, director of IEP, speaking at the program鈥檚 graduation ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 23, in Martin Chapel. Oftentimes, the purpose of a road trip is to see exciting things along the way, meet new people, and learn things that you didn鈥檛 know before, he explained. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit like your experience here,鈥� Samsoe said. 鈥淎nd I would say that your time at IEP isn鈥檛 actually the road trip but a part of your road trip鈥攁 step toward some of the bigger goals you have in your life. Completing IEP isn鈥檛 your destination, but it鈥檚 a part of the journey to whatever destination you have planned.鈥�

Thursday鈥檚 ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of three graduates who completed Level 6, the highest level of classes offered at IEP, during the summer 2025 term. These graduates, who hail from different countries, languages, and cultures, burst into laughter and fought back tears as they described how meaningful the program has been in their lives. They received graduation certificates and stoles, each emblazoned with both the flag of their home country and the U.S. flag.

The summer 2025 IEP graduates, along with their home countries, are:

• Kensly Cassy, Haiti
• Olga Lara, Mexico
• Kateryna Zharkova, Ukraine

Those attending the ceremony included Tynisha Willingham, 黑料正能量鈥檚 provost and vice president of academic affairs; Jon Swartz, dean of students; the graduates鈥� friends and family members; and students enrolled in IEP. The ceremony was followed by a potluck meal held in 黑料正能量鈥檚 Roselawn Building.

Read on to learn more about each graduate.

Kensly Cassy

Cassy, who has been in the U.S. for two years, joined IEP for Level 6 and described the program as 鈥渢he best place to start and finish English.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 fully intensive,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 tried all the other places (to learn English), but they were all about basics鈥攖hings I already mastered鈥攕o I never fit in anywhere else but here.鈥�

鈥淚 learned a lot and we got to know each other,鈥� he added. 鈥淭hanks to this program and the help of everyone, I could decide what I鈥檓 going to do with my life.鈥�

Cassy is now midway through the semester as a student at 黑料正能量鈥檚 Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, where he is pursuing a master of arts in conflict transformation. 鈥淚鈥檓 from Haiti, where we have a lot of conflict,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen I went (to CJP), I realized it wasn鈥檛 only political or social conflict, but that we as human beings have a lot of conflict inside us. 鈥� IEP helped me a lot by helping me discover CJP.鈥�

Olga Lara

Lara immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico about 20 years ago, and began her studies at IEP as a part-time student in Level 3 two years ago. She works at COSPU (Coalicion Solidaria Pro-Inmigrantes Unidos), a Harrisonburg nonprofit that empowers immigrant families through help and support, leadership mentoring, cultural and civic education, and advocacy.

She said IEP has helped her feel more confident. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter how old you are; age is only a number,鈥� the 56-year-old Lara said. 鈥淚f you feel inside you need to improve your language, you can do that.鈥�

Kateryna Zharkova

Originally from Ukraine, Zharkova started at IEP in Level 4 last fall and hopes to begin pursuing a master of business administration at 黑料正能量 in January. Following the graduation ceremony, she described feeling 鈥渙verwhelmed鈥� with emotion.

鈥淓ach person at IEP is really important to me,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey became my family. I have improved my English language and it鈥檚 helped a lot with my goals for the future.鈥�

鈥淵ou have inspired me to keep learning, growing, and discovering new things,鈥� Zharkova said in a speech to her teachers. 鈥淭hank you for always making learning exciting and for your patience and for believing in me.鈥�

黑料正能量 the Intensive English Program

黑料正能量’s Intensive English Program (IEP) helps English language learners from all around the world find their voice and build a better life for themselves. In a typical semester, IEP has 60 to 80 students representing 15 to 20 different countries. 

For more information about IEP, visit .

Hear from IEP students about how the transformative program is positively shaping their lives in from WHSV-TV3.

Native speakers of a language intuitively understand prepositions, but many would be hard-pressed to explain them to someone who is learning the language. Native speakers might also have trouble clearly explaining when to use 鈥渂ecause鈥� instead of 鈥渟o鈥� or naming the situations that call for the present continuous verb tense.

Instructors at 黑料正能量鈥檚 Intensive English Program (IEP) can explain these nuances of English and teach them in a way that new learners can grasp. Many of the instructors hold master鈥檚 degrees in TESOL, applied linguistics, English, or education. This educational background, along with international teaching experience, helps them engage in best practices in ESL teaching to the 60 to 80 students who attend the IEP in a typical semester.听

These students represent 15 to 20 countries and a wealth of linguistic diversity. Many come from three of the world鈥檚 largest faith groups: Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist. Their cultural, religious, and linguistic backgrounds vary, but they come together to work on a common goal: learning English. 

On orientation day, Jeremy Samsoe, program director of the IEP, encourages students to speak English at school, both for conversational practice and to make sure everyone feels included. In one Level 1 class where most students know Spanish and often resort to using it, their teacher keeps pushing them to speak in English. One day she jokes with them, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to hear anything except English or Chinese in this class.鈥�

As adult learners, most students are committed to attending classes and learning all they can. Students generously help each other spell words or make sense of assignments. Teachers nurture positive environments where students can practice, ask questions, and make mistakes. If someone misreads 鈥渃hocolate cake鈥� as 鈥渃hocolate coke,鈥� the class laughs together over the shared difficulty of learning a new language. Sometimes teachers add a fun component to an assignment that might feel stressful. For instance, students give a presentation about food they enjoy making and then share the food with everyone. This rich cultural spread might feature empanadas, chicken feet, banana bread, lentils and rice, and doughnuts.

One upcoming graduate of the IEP, Khan Khanzada, came to the United States in 2021. He didn鈥檛 know English and couldn鈥檛 explain his educational background or the job skills he already had as an electrician in Afghanistan. He struggled with his new work situation, but what pushed him to learn English was a visit to the doctor. Since they couldn鈥檛 communicate, the doctor called in a translator. When Khanzada saw the bill for this service, he wondered why translation cost so much. That鈥檚 when he decided he couldn鈥檛 continue living in the United States without learning English. 

Khanzada already spoke five languages, but all of them were very different from English. He started studying at Skyline Literacy but wanted to learn English faster than the four-hour-a-week program could offer. In 2023, Khanzada enrolled in the IEP, beginning as a Level 2 student. 

The IEP offers six levels of English instruction and tests students to place them at a comfortable level. Full-time students take 20 class hours per week, Monday through Thursday, with instruction in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar. Class sizes typically range from 6 to 12 students, allowing instructors to give students more attention than they would get at a larger school. Students can also receive tutoring one-on-one or in small groups.

Two years after he started classes, Khanzada reached Level 6. He loves that he can now talk about anything with anyone in English. But his remarkable progress took dedication and hard work. More than once, Khanzada said to himself, 鈥淭his is my last day. I鈥檓 going to stop because I can鈥檛 do two things at once.鈥� Like some other students, Khanzada works full-time while also studying full-time. After a 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift, he comes home briefly before showing up for his first morning class at 9 a.m. When classes end at 3 p.m., he goes home to sleep a few hours before his night shift begins.

Khanzada did not give up though, and now that he knows English, he shares his phone number with recent immigrants and tells them to give him a call if they have any communication problems. But they don鈥檛 get a surprise translation fee because Khanzada offers his services for free.

Khanzada doesn鈥檛 consider himself a perfect speaker yet, but he 鈥渃an easily solve his own problems in writing, reading, listening, and speaking.鈥� His goal is to speak English so well that nobody can tell he鈥檚 a non-native speaker. After he graduates from the IEP, he plans to perfect his English by watching movies, listening to conversations between native speakers, reading books, and intentionally learning new vocabulary. 

After completing the IEP, some students find better jobs because of their improved English skills. Khanzada, for instance, has already been able to get a job as an electrician. Other students enter universities, graduate programs, and community colleges in the United States. And some return to their home countries, equipped by their language study to pursue a new career.

Khanzada鈥檚 advice for people who don鈥檛 know English is to start taking classes. They should never say they can鈥檛 do it because their situation is too hard. 鈥淭he only person who can change your life is you,鈥� Khanzada said. 鈥淵ou have to start from somewhere. Starting is the main key that opens a lot of doors to success.鈥�

Watch WHSV-TV’s coverage of the IEP .

Aram Hanson, an instructor in 黑料正能量鈥檚 Intensive English Program (IEP), along with two of his IEP students, Dastan and Shalaw, conquered the competition at the 11th annual International Food Festival on Friday with their crowd-favorite Kurdish dishes.

Competing in the event for his first time, Hanson and his students prepared dolma (vegetables stuffed with rice and meat), biryani (a rice and meat dish), chicken tikka (kebabs), kuba (a type of dumpling), baklava and a variety of salads.  

鈥淚t seems that many people here liked our food, and that feels great,鈥� he said after being announced as a winner. He added that two of his family members recently opened a restaurant called Kabob Corner on South Main Street in Harrisonburg, and that if people enjoyed his Kurdish food, they would love the dishes served at the restaurant.

For placing first in the individuals and small groups category, the trio of Kurdish cooks received $200 in winnings. A second-place prize of $125 was awarded to Mohammad Khatiri and Ayam Ali, the cheesecake-baking duo behind , and a $100 third-place prize was given to 黑料正能量 staff member Amina Anwar for her Pakistani biryani.

Since winning last year鈥檚 competition, Khatiri and Ali have been busy selling their cheesecakes through their Instagram page and said they plan to launch a website soon. Khatiri said he was glad to be back at the festival for another year. 鈥淲e enjoy the whole vibe and like trying different types of food from different countries,鈥� he said. 

The winners of the student clubs category received a trophy and bragging rights. They are:

• First place: Asian-Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APISA)
• Second place:  Black Student Alliance (BSA)
• Third place: Latinx Student Alliance (LSA)

A total of 14 teams participated in the competition. Those sampling the dishes could vote on their favorite cuisines through a QR code at each table. 

Hosted by the International Students Organization (ISO) and the International Food Festival Committee, the festival is one of the most anticipated events of the year, drawing hundreds of students, faculty, staff and other 黑料正能量 community members to celebrate the rich flavors and traditions from around the world. Micah Shristi, director of international student services, said that more than 275 people participated in this year’s festival. He said that students represent 55 countries at 黑料正能量.

鈥淎 diversity of cultures, languages, and belief systems make our 黑料正能量 community stronger,鈥� he said. 鈥淣othing demonstrates this more deliciously than the International Food Festival.鈥�

The turnout at the event included many students from other schools who were on campus for the Intercollegiate Peace Fellowship conference held over the weekend. One of those students, Abby Chappell Deckert of Bethel College in Newton, Kansas, said she enjoyed the Pakistani biryani. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 great,鈥� she said while in line for cheesecake. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really interesting to try food from other countries, and I think it鈥檚 a great alternative to the usual everyday ‘caf’ food that people get.鈥� She said that Bethel has a very diverse student body, but does not have a similar food festival of its own.

While 黑料正能量 juniors Maria Longenecker and Leah Beachy may have disagreed on which cuisine earned their vote (Longenecker favored the Ethiopian dishes while her friend preferred the Kurdish ones), they said they both considered the festival among their favorite events of the year. 鈥淭hat Kurdish food was bussin, and you can quote me on that,鈥� said Beachy, using a slang term for 鈥渄elicious.鈥�

In between bites, Harrisonburg Vice Mayor Dany Fleming and his wife, Carol, campus visit coordinator for the admissions office, took in the upbeat music and positive energy at the Student Union. 鈥淚 love the diversity that 黑料正能量 brings and has brought historically to Harrisonburg,鈥� the vice mayor said. 鈥淧art of the reason we are such an international city is specifically and directly because of 黑料正能量 and the work they do around the world.鈥�

Friday’s event, held at the Orie O. Miller Hall of Nations inside University Commons, also included an announcement from ISO student leaders about seven new flags added to the hall: Belarus, Dominican Republic, Malawi, Mongolia, Puerto Rico, Sudan, and Uruguay. 

鈥淭hese flags are more than fabric,鈥� said 黑料正能量 senior and ISO co-President Fiker Yigzaw. 鈥淭hey are a testament to the stories, journeys, and contributions of our international students, past and present. Let鈥檚 continue to learn from one another, share in the joy of cultural exchange, and embrace the vibrant global spirit that unites us all.鈥�

Take a look at more photos from the 2025 International Food Festival in our Flickr gallery below:

The publication launched on April 18 and features the contributions of 28 students in 黑料正能量鈥檚 Intensive English Program (IEP) written in their own native languages. Articles in the 12-page issue are written in Belarusian, Dari, Farsi, French, Kurdish, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian. They feature stories by students from Afghanistan, Belarus, Brazil, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cuba, El Salvador, Honduras, Iraqi Kurdistan, Kazakhstan, Puerto Rico, Russia, Ukraine and Venezuela. Near the back of the issue, a series of summaries written in English translates their journeys to the U.S. and their experiences learning English.

Two IEP students and three IEP teachers provided edits for the paper, while six Weather Vane staffers designed the pages for publication. A thousand copies of the paper were printed and distributed.

Senior Hannah Landis and junior Zack Furr, co-founders of Global Voices and co-editors-in-chief of The Weather Vane during the fall 2023 semester, tossed around the idea last summer for translated versions of the student newspaper. They realized they didn鈥檛 have the resources for that idea, but discovered a different invaluable resource: the students enrolled in IEP.

鈥淲e wanted to recognize them as students at 黑料正能量,鈥� Landis said. 鈥淲e feel like they鈥檙e not necessarily the first people you think of when you think of the average 黑料正能量 student, but they鈥檙e just as much a part of our community.鈥�

Furr agreed.

鈥淭he primary goal of this is giving a voice to those whose voices have been underrepresented in the 100-plus years that 黑料正能量 has existed,鈥� he said.

The student writers and editors were compensated for their work 鈥� an Inclusive Excellence Grant from the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion funded their paychecks as well as all printing costs. 

鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 have done this without the IEP,鈥� Landis said. 鈥淗aving them here on campus and getting to work with them was such a privilege.鈥�

鈥淭hey did a ton of the heavy lifting,鈥� Furr added.

Landis will be graduating at Commencement this weekend with degrees in Spanish language & Hispanic studies and writing studies. Furr, whose majors are in digital media and communications and photography, said he plans to take on the task next spring with a second edition. 

鈥淲e hope to keep it going and get people passionate about it to continue working on it even after we鈥檙e gone,鈥� he said.

Global Voices was funded by the Inclusive Excellence Grants, Office of DEI, 黑料正能量. Thanks to the Office of DEI, Melissa May and the IEP faculty and staff, Jerry Holsopple, Adam Hoover, Thomas Erickson, Kirsten Beachy, The Weather Vane, and all the writers and editors from IEP. The Global Voices production staff included Doran Kennedy, Caleb Stoltzfus, Will Blosser and Erika Lopez.