45th Annual International Students & Scholars Reception

PHILADELPHIA, PA 2014—The Penn Museum once again opens its doors to the world, as international students, scholars, and professionals new to the Delaware Valley are invited to attend the 45^th annual International Students & Scholars Reception on Friday, October 17, 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The Welcome Reception, held throughout the galleries of the Penn Museum, 3260 South Street on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia, is free and open to all international students and scholars in the region.

The annual Welcome Reception, long considered a national model among international educators, hosts hundreds of international guests from more than 100 countries every year. The Penn Museum’s International Classroom program leads the celebration to connect international guests with the local community and its resources, and to introduce attendees to the multicultural community of Philadelphia.

This regional event is made possible through the efforts of many, including the Penn Museum, the University of Pennsylvania, the Office of the Vice Provost for Global Initiatives, the University of Pennsylvania English Language Program, partner Global Philadelphia, and many co-sponsors, including Bryn Mawr College, Drexel University, Philadelphia University, Ursinus College, The Wistar Institute, University of the Sciences, Widener University, the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter of the Fulbright Association, Citizens Diplomacy International CDI, and the Law Office of Matthew I. Hirsch. Volunteers from Girls High, University of Pennsylvania’s Clio Society, and the Penn Museum’s Docent Program also will lend their support on this evening.

The event features entertainment as diverse as the guest list; visitors are treated to performances of Chinese classical and folk dance by the Penn Chinese Dance Club, a traditional lion dance by Penn Lions, the rhythms of the Middle Eastern drum and dance troupe Penn Yalla, and the colorful artistry of University of the Sciences’ Culture Shock Dance Group. The evening also includes choreography from the Sarah Chung Tango dancers, Temple University’s Escencia Latina, the Allarh Mast Jawina women’s Bhangra ensemble, the fusion group Penn Hype, and the dancers of the Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative’s “Friendships Across Cultures” program.

New this year is a larger reception space, a cash bar, and a scavenger hunt challenge with terrific locally-sourced prizes. Guests are invited to tour the entire Museum and participate in interactive activities within the galleries; the heart of the Welcome Reception takes place in the Museum’s Chinese Rotunda with performances in the Upper Egypt gallery and the Kintner-Dietrich galleries.

In addition to live entertainment, guests can look forward to an appetizing array of refreshments during the reception. CxRA: Catering by Restaurant Associates joins the celebration by offering an international menu that represents the five major continents of origin for guests and will be introduced to sweet flavors of Philadelphia through specialty cookies, donated by International Classroom founder Jo Klein.

About the International Classroom Program

Since its creation in 1961, the award-winning International Classroom has helped regional students, teachers and families learn firsthand about other cultures, through programs presented by international residents, students, and scholars living in the Delaware Valley—and guests at the Reception can learn more about how they might become involved in the program. International Classroom speakers hail from over twenty countries, spanning five continents. All speakers combine critical discussion with in-depth views of artifacts and interactive activities. In addition to offering group programs for a fee, International Classroom offers a limited amount of free programs to underserved Philadelphia public schools every year, through support from PECO, local corporations, foundations, and individual donors.

About Partner Global Philadelphia Association 

The Global Philadelphia Association, partner for the International Students & Scholars Reception, shines a spotlight on the many international dimensions of the Greater Philadelphia area as part of its mission to move Philadelphia forward as a World Heritage City.

For more information about the International Students & Scholars Reception, or to learn more about the International Classroom Program at the Penn Museum, call the Penn Museum’s Learning Programs department at 215.898.4066.