ODU’s Global Monarch Club Receives ‘Best Practices’ Award
Old Dominion University's Global Monarch Club
By Noell Saunders
Old Dominion University's Global Monarch Club recently received the 2018 'Best Practices' in International Programs Award for International Programming from the national Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) organization.
For the award, NASPA focuses on programs sponsored by student affairs professionals and/or organizations that develop global perspectives and multicultural competence in college students through campus-based initiatives, projects and conglomerates.
The award committee said ODU's Global Monarch Club program uniquely "encompasses two-mentorship; wherein, international and domestic students both serve as mentors to one another in sharing cultural knowledge and experiences. This distinguishing factor sets this program apart from all other submissions and typifies it as innovative."
Old Dominion's Global Monarch Club was created in spring 2012 by Rachawan Wongtrirat, assistant director for international initiatives at the Office of Intercultural Relations.
"I'm humbled and excited," Wongtrirat said. "This award confirms the mission and purpose of the University to create an inclusive community for all. Our students are the ones who help build and drive the program to be successful."
Wongtrirat will be honored at NASPA's annual international symposium in Philadelphia for her work in developing the program. The club will be presented the award on March 4.
The Global Monarch Club connects people globally and locally to create an inclusive community while promoting diversity and intercultural understanding within the ODU community.
Named after the Old Dominion University mascot, a Monarch, the club exemplifies and demonstrates best practices in connecting international and domestic students through two types of global mentorship programs: Mentor for International Student Experience (MISE) and Mentor for International Learning and Engagement (MILE).
