From Nov. 3, through Nov. 8, multiple organizations on campus cooperated to host World Awareness Week, an annual celebration at John Brown University that highlights multiple cultures and fosters appreciation for the diversity on our campus. International students played a key role in making this happen, along with Student Events and Activities, Council of International Friendship, Student Ministries Leadership Team and the campus club MuKappa. Through a series of programs, the week immersed the entire JBU community in the rich cultural mosaic of the JBU student body.

The activities started on Nov. 3 with the International Prayer Gathering held in the cathedral at 9 p.m. Students from countries around the world were able to pray in their native language, highlighting the unity and fellowship found in shared faith.

On Monday, Nov. 4, Student Ministries Leadership Team was responsible for Taste & See, an event at which students shared powerful testimonies and experiences that revealed God's presence in their lives. Yader Suazo, a sophomore student from Nicaragua, was a speaker at the event and shared about working for Next Step, an organization that sends students from different universities to places where missionary teams help people in need.

"I shared about my experience as the translator of missionary teams in Guatemala," Suazo said. "Taste and See was great because it let me show others how I saw God working in my heart during my time there."

Daniela Gomez, a senior student from Mexico and member of the SMLT team, helped organize the activity, contacting students and inviting people to attend.

"Taste and See is an activity that we often host on campus. It is based on Psalm 34, and it is a great opportunity for students to share and hear about others' experiences with God," Gomez said. "We saw this as a perfect chance to highlight international experiences during World Awareness Week. Our goal was to intentionally help students recognize how different cultural perspectives enrich our faith journey and relationship with God."

World Awareness Week ensures that the JBU experience cultivates not just academic excellence, but empathy, respect and a true appreciation for diversity. Hearing about God through these testimonies broadens students' worldviews, challenging them to see beyond their immediate environment and comprehend that God's presence transcends borders.

"A memorable moment for me was watching my friend share her story. Despite her nerves, she courageously opened up about her experience as a missionary kid," Gomez said. "Coming from an MK background myself, I understood her perspective of always being the one giving. Her vulnerability resonated with people, and I loved seeing how it genuinely moved others. I think moments like these during SMLT events create real connections on campus."

Other activities during the week included the International Food Festival, a mission's fair for service opportunities overseas, and the Flag Ceremony on Nov. 5 during chapel. The flag ceremony is one of the most anticipated events for international students. The ceremony was considered a success for every participant, especially the International Office, which was responsible for organizing the event.

Fifty students waved their flags down the chapel corridor, including representation from three Native American nations, with many flags representing new students on campus this year.

"Personally, the logistics were a little easier. I was very surprised by the commitment of students. Every person that signed showed up," Ashley Bulgin, administrative assistant for International Programs Office, said.

Beyond cultural representation, this ceremony serves as an opportunity for international students to feel recognized and valued. The emotions and pride international students felt was very noticeable when seeing their countries represented.

"It was great to see how touching it was for others, for many it was their favorite chapel service. One friend even told me that it made her believe in church again," Bulgin said.

As students from across the world shared their stories and traditions during World Awareness Week, they embodied JBU's vision of diversity and unity. Their engagement demonstrated that at JBU, cultural diversity isn't just celebrated but remains essential to its identity.

Photo Courtesy of Lila Lemus