The International Tailgate Party, held Sept. 3 at the ONU Soccer Field, was about more than just a gathering for food. Hosted by the Office of International Services, the event was explicitly designed to encourage fellowship and build mentor-mentee relationships between international and domestic students. For international students, the party delivered a powerful message of welcome and inclusion, cultivating a stronger sense of community within ONU.
The Office of International Services implemented several careful strategies to ensure the party created meaningful and lasting connections. The organizer, Katerina Hinkle, incorporated multiple elements that allowed international students to meet new friends outside of the academic setting. Students were properly greeted and received instructions at a welcome table upon arrival.
Food was set out on a long buffet table, encouraging natural interaction as students lined up and waited for their turn to choose their meal. Furthermore, two large tarps were laid out in front of the soccer field, offering a comfortable social setting. Students could sit on these tarps, eat, and watch the soccer game. Being at the soccer game alleviated any pressure to focus only on conversation, making it easier for students to relax and interact.
The most pivotal moment for personal bonds was the structured game used to introduce new international students to their Polar Pal mentors for the fall semester. The game required new international students to stand in a line facing the mentors. Each student received half of a uniquely cut playing card with their name on it. Students quickly found their match based on the card’s suit, number, and jagged cut.
The ultimate success of the Polar Pal connection was the emotional safety it provided to the new students. This immediate, personal connection dramatically eased the overwhelming anxiety of navigating a new country and school alone. Shuching Yu, an exchange student from Taiwan, shared the sense of belonging she felt when assigned her Polar Pal:
When we were assigned to our own Polar Pal, it made me feel that I truly belonged to this part of the community. Having a Polar Pal reminded me that I wasn’t facing everything by myself and that there were people who genuinely wanted me to feel comfortable and included.
The benefits extended to domestic students as well, offering a valuable experience to broaden their global perspectives. Natalie Opritza, a criminal justice and accounting major in her second year, became a Polar Pal mentor and highlighted how her experience has influenced her college life and worldview:
I think having the experience of being with international students has truly opened me up to the idea of new cultures. I am so very grateful that I have so many friends from all these different countries and cultures and I feel like they have just made my life better in so many ways.
The evening concluded with a moment of universal celebration: singing “Happy Birthday” to two international students who were celebrating their September birthdays. Everyone participated, enjoying birthday cake and snacks while lingering to connect over shared laughter and common interests.
This shared connection—for both international and domestic students—is the precise emotional outcome the Office of International Services aims to achieve. The party’s success served as a powerful validation of the established strategies already in place, proving the office is succeeding in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.
In addition to the successful tailgate party, the Office of International Services maintains a full calendar of activities each semester. For instance, it held a Halloween party Nov. 1 and there will be a Farewell Party for exiting exchange students Dec. 12. Above all else, the Office of International Services remains sensitive to students’ needs, ensuring programs evolve continuously.