Ladies Night!

I wanted to try my hand at making some Sangria and Tapas to share some of the deliciousness of my trip to Spain with my friends here.  I decided just to invite some ladies and to make it a Ladies Night.  We ate this delicious food and then watched a dvd of Chonda Pierce - a Christian comedian.  It was a fun(ny) and tasty evening!  All I got photos of was the food, but it really was the star of the evening, so it works!

Patatas Bravas

(Check out my beautiful Spanish bowl!)

Stuffed Mushrooms

Garlicky Shrimp

Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes, Olives, and Tomato Bread

Sangria

Easter at the mall

The week before Easter there were live baby bunnies and chicks at the mall.  Amanda and I stopped to admire their cuteness!

Amanda and the bunnies

Baby chicks

A cute little bunny

Parade of Stars 2012

The Friday night of board meetings we had one of our most anticipated talent events of the year - Parade of Strars.  This is a competition between students representing their home countries.  This year the theme was "How to celebrate in my country."  The students performed skits that highlighted various celebrations in their home countries.  Here are some photos...

Opening with all the flags!

Belarus

Team Latvia celebrating Midsummer Day.

Moldovans celebraing a baby baptism.

A Lithuanian wedding celebration

Teacher's Day in Albania

Ukranians

American Thanksgiving

The winners this year were...

First Place: Latvia

Second Place: Belarus

Third Place: Moldova

Board meetings

I enjoy so many things about LCC.  One of the really cool things is that we have open board meetings.  This means that faculty, staff, and students are welcome to sit in on many (not all) of the board sessions.  It is so educational to listen to what the board is thinking and how they process the decisions that need to be made.  I must confess that I am a bit of a "board junkie" in that I clear my schedule during board meetings in order to be at all of the open sessions. 

Rachel (taking minutes), Ben Sprunger, and June Michealsen (chair)

Board members: Deivydas Pagojus and Scott Barge

Rolondas (CFO) and Derek (Human Resources VP)

We have a president!

At board meetings this week it was announced that Dr. Marlene Wall has been hired as the new LCC International University president.  She has been the acting/interim president since September 2010, so we are confident in her leading capabilities and are excited about the impact she will (continue) to have on where LCC heads in the future!

June Michealsen (chair of the board) and LCC President Marlene Wall

41!

My 41st birthday was March 27th.  Last year I celebrated with a weekend trip to Milan.  This year was less of an adventure, but that didn't make it any less fun.  People made me feel very much loved and appreciated throughout the day...about 150 facebook messages, a couple packages from friends/family not in Lithuania, birthday cards & presents from friends here, flowers, a special lunch with my staff, a birthday celebration with the rest of Student Life, and dinner out with friends.  It was wonderful! 

Good Morning from the newly 41 year old Susie!  :)

My birhtday carrot cake with Levi and Alexandra

Holding my birthday flowers with my team

Levi, Olena, Alexandra, me, and Amanda

Gorgeous flowers!

my Student Life birthday celebration

tea and cake...the Lithuanian way!

Dinner out with good friends

back row: Andrew, Maxine, Marlene, Vernon, and Rachel

front row: Robin, me, and Kim

Lauran Bethel visits LCC

Lauran Bethel is a missionary who works with women in the sex trade industry internationally.  She came to campus to speak during our Human Trafficking Awareness week.  It was wonderful to have her here with us.  She had many helpful and informative things to share with us and was a very down to earth woman. 

Lauran speaking at an event in the Residence Hall

Lauran as part of a panel discussion

Lauran and Vaidas (an LCC professor) at the panel discussion