By BRITTANY WALL

Staff Writer

In celebration of the university's multicultural population, the International Students Association will host its fifth annual International Scholarship Dinner.

Since the university is home to more than 750 international students, the organization wanted to offer people a chance to get to know things about different cultures and communities that they would not experience otherwise, Sandra George, coordinator for the International Students' Office, said.

"I think this really helps," George said. "It gives international students the opportunity to share their culture with Americans."

The event is one of two major fundraisers the organization hosts each year. It is open to the public and will begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the Student Center, Main Floor.

George said students will each have a table representing their country at the program. The event will also include showcasing fashion from each culture and the meal includes at least eight different choices of dishes from around the world.

"Our students plan the whole event," George said.

"They are providing all the entertainment, cooking the food and putting the fashion show together."

George said student tickets will cost $10 and non-student tickets will cost $18.

Some of the proceeds from the event will be used to present five international students with scholarships and a portion will go to the Tsunami Relief Fund.

"International students don't qualify for any federal aid," George said. "This is our chance to give scholarships to some of these students based on financial need, academic performance and how they've participated in ISA events."

Yet, students said they are more excited about being able to share a piece of their culture with other students and the chance to learn about others.

"It's exciting to me when people actually show interest in our organization," Sascha Poeschl, the president of the ISA and a junior architecture major from Germany, said. "I like to see the people's faces because they are actually eager to learn about different cultures."

George said the event has been a success every year, and she is hoping for the same results this year.

"We'll have about 600 or more people there," George said.

"We're getting close to being sold out, but we still have some tickets left if students would like to go."

Students said they are hoping that the event brings students on this campus closer together.

"I would like to see the interaction between international students and American students increase," Randa Eshaq, the vice president of the ISA and a graduate student of biochemical engineering from Nepal, said.

"Some international students tend to stick with their own culture, but planning for this event helps bring us all together. Without interaction with each other, this event wouldn't be possible."

George also said she hopes the event gets people out of their comfort zones and opens their eyes to new things.

"I never worked with international students before coming to Tech," George said.

"I never exposed myself to other cultures, now I can't imagine not knowing the people I've met. I think this has broadened my thinking of the world, and for that I am grateful."