News

The international alumni network received the University of Minnesota Alumni Association's 2020 Program Extraordinaire Award for their efforts to fight the coronavirus.

Have you ever wondered how staying active varies in different communities? As an international student myself, I was very surprised with the prevalence of people playing competitive and professional sports in the United States when I first moved to Minnesota for college.

International students who stay in Minnesota over the summer usually have lots of activities to keep them busy, like the Minnesota State Fair, fireworks, art fairs, and more. But the COVID-19 pandemic meant many gatherings were canceled. The new Summer in the Cities program offered students ways to explore, including events like walking tours and Nice Ride outings, as well as the Taste of Minnesota Zoom series that introduced students to classics like tater tot hotdish.

After the COVID-19 pandemic ended study abroad opportunities in the spring and summer, the Learning Abroad Center quickly pivoted to launch an innovative virtual international internship program.

Taoheed Bayo (B.S. ‘20), a U of M student from Nigeria, recently turned his hand to shoe design and created a pair of custom sneakers for Nike he called “Afro-Yutes.”