Florida College Hosts First International Student Meet & Greet
September 8, 2025 | 2-3 min read
Last week marked another special first for Florida College as the Admissions team hosted an International Meet & Greet under the direction of Devin Tellinghuisen. The Pouch, decorated with flags from each student’s home country, became a vibrant backdrop for a meaningful evening of connection. Students enjoyed dinner, played a lighthearted game to see whose home was farthest away and heard encouraging words from Devin and a former international student-athlete.
The purpose of this inaugural event was simple yet powerful: to make the world feel a little smaller. With 21 international students from 14 countries on campus this year, the evening reminded them they are not alone in their journey. From navigating American norms like driver’s licenses and bank accounts, to learning the FC culture while balancing academics and athletics, international students face unique challenges. This event created space for shared stories and encouragement while highlighting the support available from Admissions, faculty, and staff.
Devin encouraged the group, “We at Florida College are excited to walk this journey with you, to watch you grow, and to celebrate your successes—big and small. I pray this year brings you closer to God, new friendships, more knowledge, and a future filled with possibilities. The beauty of an international campus community is that we don’t just learn in classrooms—but we can learn from each other’s stories, traditions, and perspectives.”
The students represent a wide range of academic pursuits, including business administration, marketing, sport’s management, finance, nursing, communication, kinesiology, pre-physical therapy, and pre-engineering, with two students even pursuing double majors.
Among our guests was James Mwakyonde, from Tanzania—the student whose home is the farthest away at 8,600 miles.
Reflecting on his journey, James shared, “I came to the U.S. from Tanzania, East Africa as an international student in 2022. My journey began at Florida College in January of 2023. Over the last 2 years, FC has become my home away from home. As a kid, there was nothing I loved more than soccer, so joining the FC men’s soccer team was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!”
With events like the International Meet & Greet, Florida College continues to strengthen its global community—celebrating the diversity of its student body while fulfilling its mission of serving God and others.