Be a 'Friendship Family' for an International Student

"The Friendship Family program is one of the most unforgettable memories of my experience at St. Thomas. The program helped me integrate myself into a larger community than just being on campus. While being thousands of miles away from my family at home, I had a family in Minnesota that was always there for me. Thank you very much for giving international students such an unforgettable experience."

~Gulbahar Abdurasulova, undergraduate student, Turkmenistan

Would you like to have a profound impact on an international student’s experience here at St. Thomas? Are you interested in world cultures? Do you want to learn more about international heritage and bring a new culture into your home? Do you want to help serve our international students here at St. Thomas but don’t quite know how?

If so, learn about Friendship Family, a successful program organized by the Office of International Student Services (OISS). Become an international student’s American "friendship family" and learn about people from all over the world.

UST staff, faculty members, and local families are encouraged to participate.

We will have a new group of international students joining us this spring and would love to be able to offer them the opportunity to participate in this program. If this sounds like a program that you and your family would like to participate in but want more information, please attend our Friendship Family information session from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, in the Fireside Room, Murray-Herrick Campus Center. Cookies and coffee will be provided. You may also look at our program website for a more detailed program description and application form.

For more information about the Friendship Family program e-mail oiss@stthomas.edu or call (651) 962-6650.