Ping Xu

My name is Ping Xu, originally from China, a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science Department. Currently I serve as Chair of Public Relations Committee in ICC.  In my first year in LSU, I benefited a lot from the activities ICC and ISA hosted. In my second year, I started to work for ICC. The year-long working experience in ICC made me understand the substance and importance of the work so much better. Now I envision myself running for the presidency of ISA and ICC for the next year. This decision is made on a deep sense of responsibility, and a desire to lead.
        I have been very active in student organizations –I have served as President of the Departmental Student Association in college, Student Government Presidents in both middle school and high school in China.  I served in the Erasmus International Student Association when I was studying in the Netherlands and am still a member of it. I also have numerous international disaster relief experiences, for example, I volunteered and led in the Chinese Earthquake relief in Sichuan from May to June in 2008, I worked in Baton Rouge EOC during Hurricane Gustav last year too.
        In the past four years, I travelled to more than 15 countries and regions in the world. The rich travelling experience endowed me with a very open mind, a vision and a high respect of team work. When I work for ICC, I noticed that there are several potential areas that we need to work on in the future. First, we need more channels to listen to international students’ complaints and their needs so that we can work more closely for them; second, we need to work harder to integrate the international community into the greater Baton Rouge community, for instance, we need to bring more American students to our activities; third, there is great possibility that the insurance policy will go up for international students next year, we need to negotiate with the university to raise their subsidy for graduate students; fourth, we need to improve the accommodation and transportation service for the newly arrived international students, which we did not do very well last year.
          Those are just a few examples that we could work on in the future. If I become President, I will build on the work the current administration has done and learn from them. My goal is to work for the well-being the whole international community at LSU, listen to all your complaints and needs, and sincerely work for all of you.
Biographical sketch

1. Program of study: Political Science (Major) Economics (Minor)

Year of entrance: Fall, 2007

1. Leadership positions held in the past: 

Chair of Public Relations Committee in ICC, LSU
Member, Graduate Student Association in Political Science Department, LSU
Member, Erasmus International Student Association, Leiden University
Executive, Sports Division of Student Government, Wuhan University
President, Student Association of Business Administration Department, Wuhan University
President, Student Government, No. 1 High School of Zhijiang
President, Student Government, Baiyang Middle School
President, Young Pioneers League, Baiyang Primary School

1. Experience in student and voluntary organizations:

1). Organized the Memorial Concert “Sounds of Healing” for the two slain Indian students in Dec., 2008. Successfully getting The Advocate, The Daily Reveille, The Communicator, Channel 9 to report the event.
2). Responsible for the entire publicity job for International Culture Center.
3). Coordinated in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav in EOC Baton Rouge; volunteered in PMAC and Field House in LSU in September, 2008.
4). Generated two policy suggestions on the Chinese Earthquake relief for WET (Wenchuan Earthquake Taskforce), both of which were adopted by the Central Government of China, June, 2008.

5). Organized the annual University Sports Meet in Wuhan University in 2004.

 

 

Abhishek Bharad

My name is Abhishek Bharad, I am running for the post of Vice President of the International Student Association (ISA). After finishing my undergraduate degree in India, I came to LSU in the fall of 2008 to pursue a master’s degree in agricultural economics. During my undergraduate degree, I actively participated in various events, and since I have come to LSU, I have continued to participate in and organize social events for our international student body. Presently, I am serving as interim treasurer of the ISA and as a committee member of the Student Activities Board’s (SAB) International Committee. Serving the LSU community through these offices has provided me with invaluable experience.

 

Monika Lavan

I am interested in becoming a treasurer for International Student Body of 2009/2010 at ISA. I think I can fill up this position, and will be able to handle all the works that has to be done either on paper or computer. I am majoring in industrial engineering, a type of engineer that works to deal with people, time, and money. I have the ability to speak and understand English with different accents, so as to communicate with other people of diversity. I am a good speaker for my own culture as well as a curious listener to other different cultures. It doesn’t matter where all the people come from, we are here to be one of a group together. We are standing under the same category as international students at LSU. I would love to take this chance to get involved within the association of international students. If I could be a part of the international student board, I will make sure to take good care of my duty and do my best to contribute my work for the benefits of all international students. We form a big and strong community, and we too are the students of LSU with no different than the national students in the classrooms. With this purpose I have, I am willing to do what I will have to as a treasurer, a member of the International Student Body for the following year.

Education Background:

January/2009 – Present: Freshmen undergraduate student, majoring in Industrial Engineering at Louisiana State University.

2005 – 2008: High school diploma at Zaman International School, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

2003 – 2005: Secondary diploma at Zaman International School, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

1996 – 2003: Primary school study at Chaktomuk School, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Participation and Training:

I-SWEEEP Olympiad 2008 at Houston, Texas, USA

Chemistry Club 2008 at Zaman International School

Physics Club 2007 at Zaman International School

Apsara Dance Club 2006 at Zaman International School

Turkish Club 2006 at Zamana International School

Children Day 2006 at Istanbul, Turkey

Language Proficiency

Khmer: read, speak, listen, and write (mother tongue)

English: read, speak, listen, and write (very well)

Turkish: read, speak, listen, and write (fair)

Computer literacy: Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point

Leadership History

Grade 12: the leader of Class Display Board Preparatory Group

Grade 11: the leader of Class Display Board Preparatory Group

Grade 10: Student Council

Grade 9: Class Monitor

Hobbies: photography, traveling, reading, walking, watching TV.

Aim: I want to take a great role as the part of the humanity; to be a worker, possibly industrial engineering, whose job is to solve problems with time and financial aspects.

 

To be applied

Gnel Gabrielyan

I’m Gnel Gabrielyan from Armenia. I’m studying in Agricultural Economics department as a Master student. I got my bachelor’s degree from Armenian Agricultural Academy (AAA), department of Agribusiness and Marketing (Cooperative project between AAA, USDA Armenia, and Texas A&M University). I was enrolled as a student at LSU in August 2008. It was quite complicated to get used to a new environment, new culture, and new faces. But started from the first day I got very good help and directions from ICC. As they organized many events for the students I started to make new friends new connections all over the campus. And whenever I could help them with anything I was happy to do that (volunteering in organizing), because whatever was organized it was just for the students. I’m also a member of SAB international committee.

Nowadays there are going to have changes on the stuff ISA and ICC as there are changes I want to be part of that change. I had very good experience during these two semesters. I want to run for the position of Vice-president of programs at ICC. I want to have more individual participation in those activities.  I will continue to develop the traditional ideas of ICC and ISA to the students with new taste and flavor. Because as a person I like traditions but I like them with new presentation and new colors to make the events more interesting and entertaining. I would like to cooperate with all the students that will have new ideas, new suggestions and the critique.

 

 

Aditya Raj Khanal

Hi, this is Aditya Raj Khanal from Nepal. I am pursuing Masters in Agricultural Economics in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness in LSU.
International Cultural Center (ICC) is a platform for fusion and exchange of cultures across the globe. I like the way of ICC to have fun together, a combine effort to gather cultural heritages, and building friendship. So, I am running for the post of vice president (administration).
I joined LSU in fall, 2008. I have participated in many programs at ICC. I believe in collective decision making and a sense of joining hands to have some better things. My interests in international cultures and some related experiences drive me to apply for this post. During my undergraduate study, I was involved in a diversity of cultural programs and volunteering works. I have actively participated in planning, organizing and implementing the programs ranging from cultural shows to travelling, blood donation and game show. I am sure, these “organizational motive” works and a sense of togetherness will help me to stand as a responsible person for this post at ICC. I adore making friends across the globe, sharing the things from my beautiful countries and knowing about others; for which ICC is the best place at LSU. I hope, you will take consider of my keen interest to be a part of ICC, working ultimately in favor of international students in an organized way.
Note the following:
Name: Aditya Raj Khanal
Country: Nepal
Post: Vice President (Administration) at ICC

Department: Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness

 

 

David Maradiaga

I am David Maradiaga, from Honduras; I enrolled the Master of Science at the Department of Agricultural Economics on spring 2008.
One of the things that I have always loved is to serve community and people around me.  Since I arrived to Baton Rouge in January 2008, I desired to be involved with this community and to serve. This is why I applied to be the president of the Zamorano Agricultural Society at LSU in 2008. This is an international Student association at LSU, with members from many different countries, which main interest is to encourage its members to enroll graduate school and to keep that friendship, and collaboration among students alive. Throughout this one year experience in office we achieved many goals. Three of our members enrolled to the master program in different departments, we help 10 applicants to have their spring internships at the AgCenter at LSU, and we organized many activities, like trips to many different places to introduce us to Louisiana culture and customs.
Positions held in organizations

• President of Zamorano Agricultural Society at LSU

• Vice-President of Asociacion de Graduados de Escuela Agricola Panamericana en USA (AGEAP-USA)

Moreover, I have visited 13 different countries and I have the opportunity to be a student in three different countries other than mine (Spain, Egypt and U.S.) I believe this past experiences have helped me to build strong skills to better know our interests, needs and activities desired as an international community. Hence, once again I would like to continue serving this community through the position of Vice- President of Finance ICC and I ask for your support in this election.
Sincerely,
David Maradiaga