South Carolina State University administrators, faculty, staff and students will join together in celebrating cultural diversity during International Awareness Month. This year's theme is "Navigating Towards the Global Horizon."

International Awareness Month will begin with a Parade of Nations' international flag procession at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. The flags will be carried by S.C. State's international students and faculty members, students from Felton Laboratory School and the V.J. Mendinghall Jr. Academy in Orangeburg, who will entertain participants with a musical performance using steel pans and instruments invented in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The parade, led by S.C. State's Marching 101 Band Drumline, will begin beside the KO W.G. Donma Administration Building and end at the K.W. Green Student Center Plaza.

Immediately following the parade, Dr. Joyce Blackwell, vice president of academic affairs, will deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony for the International Awareness Month Program in the K.W. Green Student Center's Bulldog Lounge.

During the ceremony, the International Awareness Appreciation Award will be presented to a faculty or staff member who has promoted international awareness at S.C. State. Additionally, the International Student of the Year Award will be presented to an international student who has gone beyond the call of duty in their contributions to the university and their host country.

Activities for International Awareness Month will also include a foreign film festival, an international food festival, an exhibit of international art, a brainbowl competition and a forum featuring S.C. State students who recently traveled to China.

For more information, call Dr. Learie Luke at 803-516-4974 or e-mail lluke@scsu.edu.

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