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NIU to host 15th annual Parade of Flags Sept. 12

September 9, 2014
Parade of Flags 2013

Parade of Flags 2013

More than 500 local fifth-graders will carry the international flags of more than 100 nations during the 15th annual Parade of Flags, set to step off at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12, inside the Convocation Center.

Participants will march through the Convo and hear from Deborah Pierce, associate vice president for international affairs, who will lead the ceremony.

“We’re so happy to have the chance to welcome so many potential future Huskies to our campus for this globally focused event,” Pierce said. “Hosting the DeKalb schoolchildren on campus emphasizes the strong partnership between NIU and our local community.”

The students, their teachers, chaperones and other parade participants will enjoy a pre-parade luncheon on the grass near the stadium (rain location is the Convocation Center).

Also prior to the parade, NIU international students and returned Study Abroad participants will talk with participating elementary school students about other countries where they have lived.

“Both the NIU students and the fifth-graders really seem to enjoy this part of the parade because they’re learning from each other as they talk about other cultures and other peoples,” said Pamela Rosenberg, co-chair with Dawn Galbreath of the Parade of Flags Committee. Rosenberg serves NIU as the director for administration and finance in the Division of International Affairs.

DeKalb Mayor John Rey will serve as grand marshal of the parade this year, while NIU benefactor Sally Stevens has been named permanent ambassador for the parade.

For fall semester 2014, NIU has enrolled students from nearly 80 nations, with India, China and Saudi Arabia sending the largest numbers. Other nations sending large numbers of students include Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia and Nepal.

For more information, call (815) 753-9526 or email slindell@niu.edu.