Andrea Pate

COM 345

September 8, 2003

 

Welcoming Speech

            I feel privileged to welcome Kyoto University to Wilmington, North Carolina and to the campus of UNCW.  Also, I welcome members of our community and UNCW faculty, staff, and students.  As a representative of the student body we are fortunate to have this grand opportunity of international growth, learning, and possibility through this exchange program with Kyoto University.  This will open many doors for all of us.  I can proudly say that picking UNCW was an excellent decision.

            For the sixth consecutive year UNCW was among the top 10 public regional undergraduate universities in the south.  As far as graduate programs, our Ph. D in marine biology is one of only three such degrees offered on the east coast.  Might I also add that Surf Girl magazine voted us the best surfing university on the East coast.  Additionally, we have a fabulous location.  Being on the coast we have endless possibilities.  We are in the southeastern region of NC.  Our campus lies between the downtown historic district of Wilmington and Wrightsville beach and the Atlantic Ocean.  We are also home EUE Screen Gems filming studio.

            We at UNCW strive to be different from other universities.  We promise to create people who are educated for the 21st century and who have a sense of civic responsibility and leadership.  Our academic focus connects to three themes: regional engagement, natural environment, and globalization.  Our international program is dedicated to the mission to promote international dimension of the campus.  To foster programs and services for international students and to develop international educational linkages with other countries.

            We are pleased to embark on this relationship with Kyoto University.  We will greatly benefit from this experience as well as the ability to provide an excellent demonstration of American life and the possibilities that this country holds.  Once again we openly welcome you as future Seahawks.